190 VERTEBRATA. 



meal and water, for it was sometimes difficult to procure for them enough of the latter; but 

 their services were invaluable, often contributing to our safety, and always to our case, by their 

 constanl vigilance, as we fell a confidence that no danger could approach us at night without 

 being announced by their barking. 



" No circumstances could render the value and fidelity of these animals so conspicuous anil 

 sensible as a journey through regions which, abounding in wild beasts of almost every class, 

 continual opportunities of witnessing the strong contrast in their habits, between the ferocious 

 beasts of prey which fly at the approach of man, and these kind but too often injured companions 

 of the human race. Many times, w hen we have been traveling over plains where those have fled 

 the moment we appeared in sight, have I turned m\ eyes toward my dogs to admire their 

 attachment, and have felt a grateful affection toward them for preferring our society to the liberty 

 of other quadrupeds. Often, in the middle of the night, when all my people have been fast 

 asleep around the fire, have I stood to contemplate these faithful animals lying by their side, and 

 have learned to esteem them for their social esteem of mankind. When wandering over pathless 

 deserts, oppressed with vexation and distress at the conduct of my own men, 1 have turned to 

 these as my only friends, and felt how much inferior to them was man when actuated only bj 

 selfish views. 



" The familiarity which subsists between this animal and our own race is so common to almost 

 every country of the globe, that any remark upon it must seem superfluous; but I cannot avoid 

 belies ing thai it is the universality of the fact which prevents the greater part of mankind from 

 reflecting duly on the subject. While almost every other quadruped fears man as its most 

 formidable enemy, here is one which regards him as his companion and follows him as his 

 friend. We must not mistake the nature of the case : it is not because we train him to our use, 

 and have made choice of him in preference to other animals, but because this particular 

 species feels a natural desire to be useful to man, and, from spontaneous impulse, attaches itself to 

 him. Were it not so, we should see in various countries an equal familiarity with various other 

 quadrupeds, according to the habits, the taste, or the caprice of different nations. But everywhere 

 it is the dog only that takes delight in associating with us in sharing our abode ; lie is even jealous 

 that our attention should be bestowed on him alone ; it is he who knows us personally, watches 

 for us, and warns us of danger. It is impossible for the naturalist, when taking a survey of tie 

 whole animal creation, not to feel a conviction that this friendship between two creatures 8i 

 different from each other must be the result of the laws of nature ; nor can the humane and 

 feeling mind avoid, the belief, that kindness to those animals from which he derives continued 

 and essential assistance, is part of his moral duty." 



It may be truly said that the dog is the only animal capable of disinterested affection. The 

 horse neighs that he may be fed ; he enjoys the chase and feels emulation, and thus shares in 

 some of our plea-ures : hut the dog desires to follow us, and be useful to us as a friend. He freely 

 Bfl irifices his appetite and his liberty for our benefit. Queen Mary's lap-dog followed her to the 

 - atfoM, caressed the body when the head was cut off, and when forcibly withdrawn, pined awaj 

 and died. The dog is as true in his affections in the midst of poverty as in abundance. II 

 dines as cheerfully and thankfully on a bone with bis pauper master, as on the ruddy roast beef 

 of the lord of the manor. The instance of a cur that followed the body of his master, a | 

 tailor, to the churchyard of St. < Have, in London, and, refusing to be comforted, after a (vw w< 

 wasted away and perished, is familiar to all readers. There are innumerable instances of this 

 sort. < >ne of them, that of a young man who lost his life by falling from one of the precipici - i 

 the Belvellyn .Mountains, and who for three months was guarded by his faithful dog — wasted at 

 last to a skeleton — has been put into immortal verse by Scott: 



" I climb'd the dark brow of the mighty Ilelvellyn ; 



Lakes and mountains beneath ine gleam'd misty and wide; 

 All was still, save by tits, where the eagle was yelling, 



And starting around me the echoes replied. 

 On the right, Striden-edge round the Red tain was bending, 

 And Cachedicam its left verge was defending, 

 One huge nameless rock in the front was ascending. 



When I mark'd the sad spot where the wanderer died. 



