L94 VERTEBRATA. 



W< have bad occasion to illustrate this principle in a former part of this work (p. 42) in its 

 application t>> other animals the bog, Bheep, ox, goat, <fec. It is quite as well authenticated 

 in regard to dogs. The fierce, unconquerable bull-dog, when transported to India, in a few 

 years is altered in form; be loses bis courage and ferocity, and becomes a perfect coward. 

 Prichard saj - : 



•• It appears thai barking is an acquired, hereditary instinct ; it lias become natural to domesti- 

 cated dogs and young whelps t<> learn t<> bark, even when separated at birth from their parents. 

 h bas been conjectured thai barking originated in an attempt to imitate the human voice; 

 however thai may be, wild dogs do not bark. There are numerous troops of wild dogs in South 

 America, principalis in the Pampas. There are also in the Antilles, and in the isles on the 

 coasts of <'hili, similar hived-. These, in recovering their liberty, have lost the habit of 

 barking; like other uncultivated breeds of dogs, they only howl. It is known that the two doga 

 broughl by Mackenzie to line-land from the western parts of America, could never bark, and 

 continued to utter their habitual howl ; but a whelp bred from them in Europe learned to bark. 

 It has often been observed, thai the dogs in the island of Juan Fernandez, the progeny of those 

 that were lefl there purposely by the Spaniards before Lord Anson's time, with the design of 

 exterminating the goats, were never known to bark. A curious observation of M. Poulin is, that 

 the .at- in South America have in like manner lost those ' miaulemens incommodes' which are 

 - • often heard during the hours of night in many parts of Europe." It would be easy to add 

 many other similar proof- of the plastic nature of dogs, under the influences of climate and 

 condition. 



Qur conclusion as to the unity and independence of species, in the race of dogs, having the 

 ite-t weight of opinion and authority in its favor, as well as the gr, atest weight of fact ainl 

 argument, may, we think, be safely adopted, especially as it probably will ever remain impossible 

 to attain absolute certainty on this subject. 



It i- true that some persons have conjectured that there have been various creations of dogs, 

 of which the several existing breeds are the descendants; but, as there is no evidence whatever 

 of such a fact, and as this furnishes no better explanation of the phenomena which are under 

 discussion than the well-established principles and facts just alluded to, it is hardly worthy of 

 serious consideration. 



We aie. however, unwilling to close this topic without one final suggestion — partaking as much 

 of feeling, perhaps, as argument — but which is not without its significance. From the earliest 

 periods, as we have already suggested, in which history presents civilized man to our view, we 

 find the dog and the wolf — the former as his friend, and the latter as his enemy; the first as 

 sagacious, faithful, and valuable,— the latter as ferocious, hateful, and destructive, as at the present 

 day. Within the first thousand years after the Deluge, we find that divine honors were paid to 

 tl ■ dog, evidently on account of his admirable qualities; it is not possible, therefore, to imagine 

 him to be the descendanl of an ignoble brute like the jackal or the fox, and still less of the 

 bostile and tameless wolf. It is true that most savage animals may, in a few cases, becomi 

 attached to their keepers — those who habitually feed ami care for them — but in no other do wc 

 find the Blightesl approach to those qualities which distinguish the does, — not as individuals, bi 

 it remembered, bul a- a race. " Man," says Burns, "is the god of the dog: he knows no other. 

 S. c how he worships him ! With what reverence he crouches at his feet: with what reverence 

 he look- up to him : with what delight he fawns upon him : with what cheerful alacrity he obeys 

 him!' Can this relation between man and the dog, beginning and continuing with our 1 

 from its infancy to the present time, be accidental? Is it not rather one of those deep and 

 beneficenl provisions which exalt the contemplations of every reflecting and well-balanced mind, 

 in respecl to ti,, < reator .' 



But, a- in the case of man, supposing the several tribes and nations to be of one species, w 

 still classify them into distinct groups, so with regard to dogs, they have been arranged int. 

 races, according to their affinities. 



The following i- tie- classification, a 'ding to the development of the. frontal sinus and tin 



cerebral cavity, or in other word-, the powerof scent and the degree of intelligence. It originate 



i 



