( 5^ ) 



The general charafter and hiflory of this annual arc fo well known that 

 a particular delcription becomes unneceflary. It may be proper however to 

 obferve that the ferocity fo confpicuous in the wolf in a ftate of nature, is 

 greatly mitigated by an early education ; of which tlie individual fpecimen 

 from whidi the prefent figure was talcen, is a remarkable inftance ; having 

 been rendered in a great degree tame and gentle by the affiduity of the late 

 Sir Afliton Lever. 



The general refembJance between the wolf and dog is fo great as to be 

 obvious to every eye; and it has even been fuppofed that in reality tlie whole 

 race of dogs may have originated from the wolf. If it be objeded that the dif- 

 pofition of the two fpecies differ in the liighclt poffible degree from eacli 

 other, it has been anlwered that the qualifies fo much admired in the dog 

 are the refuk of long feparation from the original flock, and have been gradually 

 acquired and improved. The argument however which is ufually brought in 

 favour of the identity of the fpecies from tlie circumftance of the wolf and 

 dog breeding, and even the hybrids themfelves being produftive, may perhaps 

 be confidered as not entirely conviftive ; at leaft if we may be allowed to 

 reafon from analogy. The goldfinch and canary-bird are well known to breed ; 

 and it is equally certain that their hybrids are occafionally produdlive : yet 

 we cannot fuppofe the canary-bird and goldfinch to conftitute the fame fpe- 

 cies of bird. The approximation however between the wolf and dog is fo 

 very near as ftlU to leave it in fome doubt whether the latter might not 

 really have defcended from the former. 



