128 DOGS. 



and more powerful than the reclaimed ones, which are less than 

 two feet high at the shoulder, and do not exceed in size our 

 shepherd's dog. 



The wild dingos are very courageous, and they hunt in pairs or 

 small families of five or six. Their fierceness and activity are equal 

 to, if not more than a match for, the most powerful domestic 

 dogs, not excepting the European breeds, and they immediately 

 devour these, their more civilized brethren, if they fall into their 

 power. They attack sheep and kill as many as they can over- 

 take 5 and few that they leave merely wounded ever survive the 

 severity of their bite. When prowling they utter a melancholy 

 howl, and bend the tail down ; but when they are chasing their 

 prey, they keep the tail in a horizontal position, raise the head 

 high, erect the ears, and turn them forwards. 



The female litters in some thicket, hollow tree, deserted 

 ant-hill, or hole in the earth. Mr. Oxley, Survey or- General of 

 New South Wales, records the following instance of mutual 

 attachment among these dogs. " About a week ago we killed 

 one, and threw his body on a small bush ; in returning past the 

 same spot to-day, we found the body removed three or four 

 yards from the bush and the female, in a dying state, lying close 

 beside it. She had apparently been there from the day the dog 

 was killed, being so weakened and emaciated as to be unable to 

 move on our approach." 



In confinement, these dogs neither howl, bark, nor growl, but 

 are quite mute. They emit a strong odour, and when irritated 

 they erect the hairs of the body, and assume a truly menacing 

 appearance. Those which the natives of Australia possess in 

 a half tamed state, are employed in hunting the kangaroo and 

 emu. 



