86 INTRODUCTION. 
Mr Bell concludes these observations in the fol- 
lowing words :—“ Upon the whole, the argument 
in favour of the view which I have taken, that the 
wolf is probably the original of all the canine races, — 
may be thus stated. The structure of the animal 
is identical, or so nearly so as to afford the strongest 
da priori evidence in its favour. The dog must have 
been derived from an animal susceptible of the 
highest degree of domestication, and capable of 
great affection for mankind, which has been abun- 
dantly proved of the wolf. Dogs having returned 
to a wild state and continued in that condition 
through many generations, exhibit characters which 
approximate more and more to those of the wolf, in 
proportion as the influence of civilization ceases to 
act. The two animals will breed together and produce 
fertile young. The period of gestation is the same.” 
Unquestionably the foregoing observations are 
stated with considerable force, but the conclusions 
to be drawn from them do not appear to have satis- 
fied the writer, nor have they sufficient weight to 
be completely admissible. We shall therefore pro- 
ceed to offer some remarks upon the alleged facts, 
to show the reasons for withholding an unqualified 
assent ; and we may be allowed to remark that the 
statements are. occasionally grounded upon insuffi- 
cient data: moreover, where the question of iden- 
tity, as in the present case, is concerned, it may be 
doubted whether the words “ all or nearly all the 
essential parts being identical,” appear to be unob- 
jectionable. 
