40 THE DESCRIPTIVE ANATOMY OF THE DOG. 



that this despised colour occurred in the greyhound breed, 

 long before the cross with the bull-dog was thought of, so that 

 the colour in the latter may be derived from the former, for 

 aught we know to the contrary. Indeed, so little is certain as to 

 the origin of the different varieties of the dog, that the bull- 

 dog himself in toto is just as likely to be a thickened greyhound, 

 as the greyhound a lengthened bull-dog. Upon this abstruse 

 question I do not, however, intend to dwell, because the argu- 

 ments are purely hypothetical, and the result in consequence so 

 very unsatisfactory. But I am quite entitled, from the present 

 state of the argument, as admitted by naturalists, to infer that 

 nothing is known of the primary root of the dog; and conse- 

 quently that it is impossible to assign any particular colour as 

 originally peculiar to any variety. At present we can assert that 

 the brindle is confined to the bull-dog, mastiff, and greyhound, but 

 then so is the black-muzzled red and fawn, which are, however, 

 highly prized among greyhound-breeders ; so that I think I am 

 justified in asserting that the prejudice which we most of us 

 entertain (myself among the rest) against the brindle is not founded 

 on any real objection, but has arisen from Mr. Mundy's and 

 Mr. Thacker's dislike, founded upon their supposition of its 

 connection with the bull-dog. This theory of its origin was 

 shown by Mr. Groodlake to be untrue ; nor if true would it be 

 a valid objection, since many of our best modern greyhounds 

 are traced to this cross. And if my theory is correct, that the 

 brindle is only the result of a cross between black and red, 

 sometimes mixed with white, in the various shades of black, blue, 



