108 



Canid^.- 



-MAMilALIA.- 



-Caniu.e. 



doubt that tliey feed on rats, guinea pigs, small birds, 

 and certain vegetables, if tliese fall in their way, but 

 chiefly on snails, tuads, frogs, and other reptiles, and 

 on tlie land crabs, wliich are abundant in the plains 

 and sand-banks. Tliey walk with very long paces, 

 run niucli, and are, D'Azara adds, great plunderers, 

 althougli they always fly from man, and even fiom 

 dogs. They are solitary in their habits, are said to 

 swim well, and in tlieir wild state to utter no sound 

 but gouaa. which they often and loudly repeat, so as 

 to be heard at a great distance." The Payaguas 

 Indians call the Red wolf Parcepaga; it is termed 

 Culpeu by the natives of Chili. It is also known as 

 the Aguara, a name likewise applied to a distinct race 

 of wild dogs. 



THE DOG {CanU liipus\ar./iimiliaris). — We do not 

 specifically recognize tlie dog as a distinct animal, and 

 have previously expressed our adhesion to the view that 

 tliese useful creatures are neither more nor less than 

 domesticated varieties of the common wolf. The natural 

 history of the Dog is a subject of considerable interest; 

 but it is one so extended tliat tlie bare enumeration of 

 the leading characteristics and habits of the principal 

 varieties, would require an entire volume for their 

 description and elucidation. Tliose, therefore, who 

 wisli to follow up this department of the subject, 

 must consult works specially devoted to dogs. Some 

 of tlie numerous canine varieties attain a very great 

 size, with a oroportionate degree of strength; such, for 



example, as the Bloodhound, the MastilT, the Newfourid- 

 land, and the Tliibet dog (Plate 6, fig. 23) ; others are 

 remarkably small, as in certain varieties of Spaniel ; 

 while a third kind are extremely attenuated both in 

 shape and make, as instanced by the little ItaHan 

 Greyhound. In many parts of the world, dogs have 

 returned, at least to a certain extent, to their original 

 wild condition. In this way they have formed several 

 quite distinct races or typical varieties, which are 

 found in different parts of Asia, Australia, and the two 

 Americas. From a general consideration of these 

 forms, it may be fairly stated that, both in structure 

 and appearance, they exhibit a much closer approxi- 

 mation to the common wolf than obtains in the case 

 of any of the varieties which have remained domesti- 

 cated. (For a full and able exposition of this subject, 

 however, we must refer our readers to Mr. Bell's work 

 on " Britisli Quadrupeds," and particularly, also, to the 

 early part of Dr. Carpenter's admirable article entitled 

 " Varieties of Mankind," contained in the 4th volume 

 of Dr. Todd's " Cyclopedia of Anatomy and Physio- 

 logy.") The Australian wild dog or Dingo, fig. 30, 

 approaches so closely to the wolf, that it wa-i described 

 by Bewick as the "New South Wales wolf." Tho 

 Indian Dliole is another interesting example of a return 

 to the wild state. In some respects it comes nearer 

 the jackal. The fur is of a bay or rufous-brown 

 colour; tlie tail being long and narrow, and not bushy 

 at tlie extremity. It has a remarkably bright ej-e, and 



Dingo, The Wild Dog of Australia. 



a keen lively countenance. Though strictly wild and 

 savage, it will not attack persons unless first molested. 

 Tliese Dlioles live almost entirely upon other animals, 

 especially deer, whicli they hunt in large packs; 

 authentic instances are also recorded wliere they have 

 attacked and overcome tigers. Some have doubted this, 

 but the evidence is complete; and, besides, there can 

 be nothing improbable in the circumstance of wild dogs 

 attacking tigers, when it is a well-known fact that com- 

 mon spaniels will readily do the same tiling; many a life, 



indeed, has been spared by the courage of the latter. 

 When engaged in tlie chase or on the scent tlie Dholea 

 do not howl or bark, but, at times of much excitement 

 in the course, they utter a kind o' plaintive whining 

 note. Among other kinds of wild dogs which are mora 

 or less closely allied to the wolf, we may perhaps 

 class the Caygotte or Coyotl, whose fur has a whitish- 

 brown colour. This animal is an inhabitant of South 

 America, and feeds upon smafl quadrupeds, and also 

 upon maize and other vegetable matters. 



