OTHER USEFUL ANIMALS 



691 



fact that there are certain distinctive 

 peculiarities in the dogs of different 

 countries and in general the dogs of sav- 

 age races most closely resemble the wild 

 species of the particular locality. 



It appears probable, therefore, that 

 dogs originated from wolves, coyotes, 

 and jackals, all of which cross freely 

 with dogs, and as just indicated, pro- 

 duce fertile hybrids. The Esquimaux 

 dog resembles the gray northern wolf, 

 and the Indian dog looks and frequently 

 howls like a coyote. It is highly prob- 

 able, therefore, that a number of wild 

 species were domesticated in different 

 countries and that the present great 

 variation among dogs is due to the dif- 

 ferences in the wild species from which 

 they developed and the numerous cross- 

 ings which have subsequently taken 

 place. Dogs readily adapt themselves 

 to changed conditions and to the wants 

 of man. It has thus been possible for 

 man to utilize dogs for a great variety 

 of purposes. 



Our dogs vary in weight from 2 to 

 150 pounds or more. There are long 

 haired, short haired and hairless breeds. 

 Dogs show all the colors known in do- 

 mestic animals, and the greatest possi- 

 ble variation prevails in the length, size 

 and conformation of every part of the 

 body. The uses to which dogs have been 

 put are too numerous to permit a 

 thorough discussion in this account. 

 Dogs serve as pets, companions, curiosi- 

 tieSj assistants in the management of 

 sheep, cattle, swine, goats, horses and 

 other domestic animals. They are ex- 

 tensively used in hunting all kinds of 

 game birds and mammals. Many breeds 

 of dogs have been originated expressly 

 for hunting certain kinds of game. 



Dogs are also used in hunting down 

 criminals and in helping the police in 

 large cities. In the place of watchmen 

 trained dogs render excellent service. 

 As draft animals dogs are in much fav- 

 or in Europe, Asia and Alaska. Heavy 

 sledges are drawn by large teams of 

 dogs over rough ground in the severest 

 weather. Their teeth are used as orna- 

 ments, their skins as coats, rugs, robes 

 and for leather. Occasionally dogs fur- 

 nish motive power on the tread mill, run 

 errands, carry packages and do other 

 odd jobs about the farm. 



Dogs as food—The use of dogs as 

 food is not very familiar to most of us, 

 yet Langkavel gives a list of more than 

 200 savage races which eat dog meat. 



The Incas and Aztecs raised special 

 breeds of dogs for food, and kept them 

 on a vegetable diet. Some of the Asia- 

 tic races have regular meat breeds of 

 dogs which fatten readily and produce a 

 tender meat. These dogs have the hab- 

 its of swine rather than of the breeds 

 of dogs with which we are most fa- 

 miliar. The Australian natives eat both 

 wild and tame dingo, and the dogeating 

 habits of the Igorrotes from the Phil- 

 ippines have become familiar to us from 

 their colonies at recent expositions. The 

 American Indian fattened young dogs 

 for food, and ate them on gala occasions 

 or dog-feasts. Many of the pioneer 

 western explorers and settlers sometimes 

 ate dog meat and report that it was not 

 unpalatable. Ostertag states that dog 

 meat is sometimes fraudulently substi- 

 tuted for pork in Germany. The dog 



Eig. 444 HARLEQUIN, GREAT DANE 



(Photo by W. G. Johnson) 



is a highly esteemed animal among the 

 Chinese as well as among the Tartars 

 and the inhabitants of Kamchatka. In 

 Senegal and in the Society islands dog 

 meat is preferred to pork. • 



In Munich "the slaughter of dogs ap- 

 pears to have become so extensive that 

 the authorities wish to establish meas- 

 ures which will regulate the traffic in 

 dog meat and protect the owners of dogs 

 from the thieving tendencies of com- 

 mercial dog butchers. It is believed 

 that dog meat is not only used for the 

 adulteration of sausage but is eaten as 

 a delicacy by the thousands of Italian 

 workmen in Munich. Dogs are regu- 



