NATURAL HISTORY OF THE DOG. 35 



1 ain disposed to take the lamented Frederick Cimer as 

 ny guide, and to form the varieties of dog into groups, in- 

 Jicaicd by the least variable portion of their oncological 

 structure craniological development. 



This arrangement may be formed with great ease and 

 simplicity. All the varieties of the domestic dog are readily 

 divisible into three great classes, as follow : 



I. Such dogs as present a convergence of their parietal 

 oones, (the side-walls of the skull, as it were,) and the 

 condyles of whose lower jaw are somewhat below the level 

 of the molar or cheek-teeth of the upper. These present an 

 elongated muzzle, a high and somewhat slender frame, and 

 are far more remarkable for their powers of sight and swift- 

 ness, than for a very high development of the sense of smell. 



II. The second group consists of dogs which present 

 parietal bones parallel, or at least neither apparently con- 

 vcrgent nor divergent, and the condyles of the lower jaw on 

 a level with the upper molar teeth. These are usually dogs 

 of great sagacity, and generally pdsscss the sense of smell- 

 ing in a very high degree. It is, however, somewhat pre- 

 mature to speak of them, previous to a description of the 

 third group. 



III. Parietal bones sensibly divergent, and the condyles of 

 the lower jaw much above the line of the upper molar teeth- 

 This group presents a strongly marked contrast to the first, 

 and the varieties of which it is constituted are generally 

 characterized by great bulk of body, by powerful strength, 

 indomitable courage, pugnacity of disposition, and not any 

 very great development of mental powers. Although the 

 varieties constituting this group appear to possess a large 

 development of forehead, the appearance is chiefly owing 

 rather to a thickening of bone in those regions than to such a 

 development of brain as would predicate a high degree of in- 

 tellectual power. 



The first and third groups present, more especially the 

 former, strong marks of originality ; the second looks very 

 much as if it owed its origin to the intermixture of the first 

 and third. Of the origin of the dog I have, however, said 

 enough ; and I have now only to enumerate and describe his 

 varieties. 



Under a fourth head I shall describe mongrels, and among 

 them such few cross-breeds as have been found judicious an? 

 | rofitable, and have now, consequently, become almost set- 

 tled varieties. 



