64 CAENIVORA. 



as furnishing the most practical means of transport. 

 They were used in the late Arctic Expedition of Sir 

 George Nares, and more recently by Major Greeley, who 

 speaks more highly of dog-sleighs than the former ; but 

 we must not lose sight of the fact that the dog is unable 

 to draw on half-frozen snow (as was the case in Xares' 

 Expedition) ; a fine surface is required in order to travel 

 with speed. 



The Esquimaux Dog will devour its harness if left 

 within its reach : its appetite is voracious. 



The well-known Pomeranian Dog resembles this 

 animal, both in appearance and disposition. 



Dr. Richardson says, p. 75 : — " Without entering at all 

 into the question of the domestic dog, I may state that the 

 resemblance between the wolves and the dogs of those 

 Indian natives who still preserve their ancient mode of 

 life continues to be very remarkable, and is nowhere 

 more so than at the very northern extremit}^ of the 

 Continent , the Esquimaux Dogs being not only extremely 

 like the grey wolves of the Arctic circle in form and 

 colour, but also nearly equalling them in size. The dog 

 has generally a shorter tail than the wolf, and carries it 

 more frequently curved at the hip ; l)ut the latter practice 

 is not totally unknown to the wolf, although that 

 animal, when under the observation of man, being 

 generally apprehensive of danger or on the watch, seldom 

 displays this mark of satisfaction. I hme, however, 

 seen a family of wolves playing together, occasionally 

 carry their tails curled upwards." 



Dr. Eichardson, quoting Captain Lyon, saj's : — " It 

 might be supposed that in so cold a climate these 

 animals had peculiar periods of gestation, like the wild 

 creatures ; but, on the contrary, they bear young at every 

 season of the 3'ear, and seldom exceed five at a litter." 



