70 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE DOG. 



while it was months before I recovered the use of my right 

 hand and arm. 



In the West Indies these dogs are employed to convey 

 cattie across rivers, and also to aid them in landing from the 

 ships in which they arrive. " We have often witnessed, 

 when vessels with live-stock arrive in our West Indian 

 colonies, and the oxen are hoisted out, by a sling passed 

 round the base of their horns, the great assistance they 

 afford to bring them to land. For when the ox, first suspend- 

 ed by the head, is lowered, and allowed to fall into the 

 water, men generally swim, and guide it by the horns ; but 

 at other times this service is performed by one or two dogs, 

 who, catching the bewildered animal by the ears, one on 

 each side, force it to swim in the direction of the landing- 

 place, and instantly release their hold when they feel it 

 touches the ground."* 



THE MEXICAN DOG. 



A long-backed, ill-shaped animal, not unlike a lurcher; 

 legs comparatively short ; and ears usually cropped. This 

 is identical with the Techichi described by Fernandez. 



THE WOLF-DOG OF FLORIDA 



Is described by Mr. Bartram as different from the local 

 wolves only in its powers of barking. His anecdote of one 

 which was trained by his wild master to guard a troop of 

 horses, without any human superintendence, proves it to be 

 highly docile and intelligent, (Bartram's Travels.) This 

 dog stands upwards of twenty-seven inches in height ; the 

 ears are erect ; the tail is full, and bushy. 



THE PARIAH, OR EGYPTIAN STREET-DOG. 



This is probably the " Keleb" of antiquity, degraded by 

 mange, famine, mongrel ism, and general neglect. 



This dog, miserable as is its condition, is not destitute of 

 good qualities. It is sagacious, and will not quit its own 

 quarter of the town, where it acts as a guard upon the 

 property of the inhabitants ; none will transgress the limits 

 of their particular district, even though offered the most 

 tempting baits. f 



* Nat. Lib. Mam. vol. x. 



t The dogs of Lisbon, described by Surgeon Wilde, present a 

 twit of character. 



