CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 5. CARNIVORA. 211 



of the sledge, with a whip long enough to reach the leader. This whip, however, is used as B< 1- 

 doin as possible; for these dogs, although tractable, are ferocious, and will endure little correc- 

 tion. When the whip is applied with severity on one, he falls upon and worries his neighbor, 

 and he, in his turn, attacks a third, and there is a scene of universal confusion ; or the dogs double 

 from side to side to avoid the whip, and the traces become entangled, and the safety of the sledge 

 endangered. The carriage must then be stopped, each dog put into his proper place, and the 

 traces readjusted. This frequently happens several times in the course of the day. The driver, 

 therefore, depends principally on the docility of the leader, who, with admirable precision, quickens 

 or slackens his pace, and starts off or stops, or turns to the right or left, at the summons of his 

 master. When they are journeying homeward, or traveling to some spot to which the leader 

 has been accustomed to go, he is generally suffered to pursue his own course ; for, although every 

 trace of the road is lost in the drifting snow, he scents it out, and follows it with undeviating accu- 

 racy. Even the leader, however, is not always under the control of his master. If the journey 

 lies homeward, he will go his own pace, and that is usually at the top of his speed ; or, if any 

 game starts, or he scents it at a distance, no command of his driver will restrain him. Neither 

 the dog nor his master is half civilized or subdued." 



The Greenland, and Siberian, and Kamtsciiatkadale Dogs are varieties of the Esquimaux or 

 Arctic dogs, but enlarged in form, and better subdued. The docility of some of these is equal to 

 that of any European breed. The following pleasant story is told of one of them : 



"A person of the name of Chabert, who was afterward better known by the title of 'Fire 

 King,' had a beautiful Siberian dog, who would draw him in a light carriage twentv miles a dav. 

 He asked one thousand dollars for him, and sold him for a considerable portion of that sum ; for 

 he was a most beautiful animal of his kind, and as docile as he was beautiful. Between the sale 

 and the delivery, the dog fell and broke his leg. Chabert, to whom the price agreed on was of 

 immense consequence, was in despair. He took the dog at night to a veterinary surgeon. He form- 

 ally introduced them to each other. He talked to the dog, pointed to his own leg, limped around 

 the room, then requested the surgeon to apply some bandages around the leg, and he seemed to 

 walk sound and well. He patted the dog on the head, who was looking alternately at him and 

 the surgeon, desired the surgeon to pat him, and to offer him his hand to lick, and then, holding 

 up his finger to the dog, and gently shaking his head, quitted the room and the house. The dog 

 immediately laid himself down, and submitted to a reduction of the fracture, and the bandaging 

 of the limb, without a motion, except once or twice licking the hand of the operator. He was 

 quite submissive, and in a manner motionless, day after day, until, at the expiration of a month, 

 the limb was sound. Xot a trace of the fracture was to be detected, and the purchaser, who is 

 now living, knew nothing about it." 



The Lapland Dog appears to be a very active and sagacious variety of the Arctic breed. 



The Hare Indian Dog. — This species is marked by a sharp muzzle, ears erect and pointed, 

 and a lively, cheerful, and pleasing aspect. The hair is white, with patches of grayish black and 

 brown. They are good tempered and manageable, and are used by the Hare Indians in the 

 neighborhood of Mackenzie's River and the Great Bear Lake, chiefly in the chase. They have 

 broad feet and light forms, and thus pass easily over the snow. They run down and overtake the 

 moose and deer, and keep them at bay till the hunters come up and dispatch them. They never 

 bark ; but one that was born and bred in the Zoological Gardens of London barked like other 

 dogs. 



The Iceland Dog has a roundish head, ears partly erect and partly pendent; the fur soft, and 

 very long, especially behind the fore-legs and on the tail. It is exceedingly useful to the Ice- 

 landers while traveling over the snowy deserts of the north. By a kind of intuition it rarely 

 fails in choosing the shortest and the safest course. It is also more aware than its master ot 

 the approach of the snow-storms, and is a most valuable ally against the attack of the Polar bear, 

 ' who, drifted on masses of ice from the neiodiboriu£ continent, often commits depredations among 

 the cattle, and even attacks human beino-s. When the dos; is first aware of the neighborhood ot 

 the bear, he sets up a fearful howl, and men and clogs hasten to hunt down and destroy the 

 depredator. 



