318 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



selves, and not altogether devoid of instruction. It is in 

 these that the real character of the animal is evinced, but 

 our limits rather oblige us to presume that the reader is 

 acquainted with many of them, and to devote the little 

 space we have in attempting to illustrate the present state 

 of zoological knowledge in regard to the race, which may 

 not perhaps be quite so familiar to the English reader. 



There is indeed ample room for a separate and extensive 

 work on the Caninae, replete too with original and instruc- 

 tive matter ; for all that has hitherto been done is but partial 

 and unsatisfactory, at least when the subject is considered in 

 a comprehensive point of view. Almost all the original ob- 

 servations we have upon the subject come from France, and 

 partake perhaps too much of an exclusive and national 

 character. Thus Buffon, in his canine pedigree, would trace 

 almost all the varieties to the French Matin, a Dog not 

 known out of France, and even there apparently but ill 

 defined. 



Buffon's canine history also abounds with hypotheses, 

 which, if false, are so much the more diflicult of eradication, 

 in consequence of the fascinating language in which they 

 are conveyed. 



M. F. Cuvier, in the present age of zoological improve- 

 ment, has done by far the most on the animals in question. 

 We propose, therefore, in this part of our undertaking to 

 notice briefly most of the more important varieties, arranged 

 according to the plan of that eminent zoologist ; and in the 

 synoptical table to refer more particularly to all of them he 

 has mentioned, and in the graphic department, with the 

 exception of two cr three plates, to confine ourselves to 

 figures of British Dogs, under their popular appellatives. 

 We shall, however, premise a few general observations. 



It is said that the Shepherd's Dog, transported into the 

 temperate climates, and among people entirely civilized, 

 such as England, France, and Germany, will be divested of 



