200 VERTEBRATA. 



There ia still another useoff-the dog, which a regard to the taste of our readers would naturally 

 lead us to omit, bul truth compels us to state thai this animal is used in some countries as a 

 luxurj for the table. This practice is nol of modern origin. Many of the Greek and Roman 

 epicures were fond of 1 1 1 < - flesh of the dog. Galen speaks of it in the strongest terms of praise, 

 Hippocrates Bays thai the meal of <»1<1 dogs is of a warm and dry quality, giving strength to the 

 r. Ajianias, the poet, Bpeaks of dog's flesh mixed with that <>t' the hare and f.»x. Virgil 



ommends thai the fatted dog should l>e served u|> with whey <>r butter; and Dioseorides, the 

 physician, s.-tys thai dogs should be fed on the whey that remains after the making of cheese. 



It is nol surprising thai an animal whose flesh was thus regarded as delicious for food 

 and of powerful hygienic virtues, should be esteemed an acceptable offering to the gods. Accord- 

 ingly, we find thai dogs were sacrificed at certain periods by the Greeks and Romans to almost 

 all their deities, and particularly to Mars, Pluto, and Pan; to Minerva, Proserpine, and Lucina; 

 and also t" tie- Moon, because the dog, by his barking, dispelled all charms and spells, and 

 frightened away all specters and apparitions. The Greeks immolated many dogs in honor of 

 Hecate, because by their haying the phantoms ot' the lower world were evoked. A great num- 

 ber of dogs were also destroyed in Samothrace in honor of the same goddess. Dogs were 

 periodically sacrificed in February, and also in April and in May; also to the goddess Ruhigo, 

 who presided over the corn, and the Bona Dea, whose mysterious rites were performed on Mount 

 Aventine. The dog Cei berus was suppose. 1 to be watching at the feet of Pluto, and a dog and a 

 youth unc periodically sacrificed to that deity. The night when the Capitol had nearly been 

 destroyed was annually celebrated by the cruel scourging of a dog in the principal public places, 

 e\ .-n to the death of the animal. 



These habits of the ancients naturally parsed to the modern nations of Europe, modified, 

 however, by the state <^l' manners. Before Christianity was established among the Danes, on 

 every ninth year, at the winter solstice, a monstrous sacrifice of ninety-nine dogs was offered. 

 In Sweden the sacrifice was still worse. < >n each of nine successive days, ninety-nine dogs were 

 destroyed. This sacrifice of the dog, however, gave way to one more horrible. On every ninth 

 year, ninety-nine human victims were immolated, and the sons of the reigning tyrant among the 

 rest, in order thai the life of the monarch might be prolonged! 



The use of the dog for food exists extensively at the present day. We have already spoken of 

 the dogs of Loango, fattened for the shambles. Among the Chinese, dog meat is as well estab- 

 lished in the markets as mutton. All the American Indians feed on dogs, as opportunity or 

 occasion offers. Many civilized men, .specially voyagers and travelers in the Arctic regions, 

 prompted by hunger, have made their meal on this animal. Some of them, in their narratives. 

 speak of roast-dog with a gusto that veal or venison could hardly provoke. 



\\ . now proceed with our classification of. loo-,, and a brief description of the most remarkabl • 

 ■. arietiea : 



DIVISION L -THE GREYHOUND AND ITS KINDRED. 



The <ii;i;i in . i \n : ('. familiaris leporarius. — < >f this there is a great variety, all characterize: 

 by a small head, slender limbs, and a gaunt form. An old description says : 



•■A greyhounde Bhould be hi aded lyke a snake, Tayled lyke ;i ratte, 



An- 1 neckyd lyke a drake, Syded like a tcme, 



I b k '~ ■> cat, And cbyned like a bream." 



In hunting, greyhounds usually follow by sight, and not by scent. Their name does not indi- 

 cate their color, as they are of various complexions. They are not of the highest order of intelli- 

 gence, icr are they distinguished by greal attachment to their masters; but many of them are 

 •rites, some for their swiftness in the chase, and others for the extreme elegance of their shape 

 This breed is mentioned so early as the time of < >vid : 



•■ As when th' impatient greyhound, slipp'd from far, 

 Bounds o'er the glade to course the fearful hare, 



She in her 3] <1 does oil her safety lay, 



And he with double Bpeed pursues the prey, 

 O'erruna her at the Bitting turn, bul licks 



