NATURAL HISTORY OF THE DOG. 



the Royal Zoological Society of Ireland, Phoenix Park, and 

 I found that a lowering of the tail invariably denoted mis- 

 chief that member being usually carried over the back.* 

 The Dingo seldom growls, and never barks ; although I must 

 say, that I have known captive specimens chained near do- 

 mestic dogs, to acquire a sort of half howl or yelp, which, 

 apparently a little tuition would have converted into a 

 genuine " bow wow." The Dingo is easily rendered tolera- 

 bly tame ; but is never to be trusted ; if he escape from 

 confinement, he will forget in a moment the lessons of years, 

 and slaughter and rapine will follow in his mad career. 

 This animal is a great scourge in his native country, and is 

 carefully exterminated whenever he approaches a settlement. 

 He is most remarkably tenacious of life, and is a very obsti- 

 nate fighter ; instances are related of the Dingo sustaining a 

 combat with, and ultimately getting away from four or five 

 stout hounds ; and very few dogs can kill a Dingo single- 

 handed : they fight, like the wolf, in silence ; they utter no 

 cry of pain, but, like that grim felon, die as hard as they 

 have lived. Of their power of endurance I may give the 

 following instances, related by Mr. George Bennett, in his 

 " Wanderings in New South Wales." "One had been 

 beaten so severely that it was supposed all the bones were 

 broken, and it was left for dead ; after the person had walked 

 some distance, upon accidentally looking back, his surprise 

 was much excited by seeing the Dingo rise, shake himself, 

 and march into the bush, evading all pursuit. One supposed 

 dead was brought into a hut, for the purpose of undergoing 



* I can also adduce the authority of Mr. Drewett, of Portobello Cfcr- 

 dens, a person of undoubted experience. 



3* 



