ORDER CARNASSIER. 321 



in his various creatures must ever be the subject of hypo- 

 thesis and conjecture ; and, however convenient in grouping 

 the animal kingdom may be the proportions of cranium 

 and face, the strictest analysis of the cerebral masses will 

 never detect the mental faculties of the animal to which 

 they belonged. 



The most eminent writers, poetical and prosaic, have 

 exercised their oratory in describing and eulogizing these 

 highly useful and interesting animals. The subjugation and 

 domestication of them by Man may be called reason's con- 

 quest of nature ; and, as our author observes, it is the most 

 complete, singular, and useful conquest man has ever made. 

 It is true that, in the refined state of society in which we 

 live, this is not so apparent ; but a little observation on the 

 state of such of our fellow-creatures as are yet beneath us 

 in intellectual improvement, will probably satisfy us that 

 we owe originally much of our advance to, and progress in 

 civilization, to the powers of the Dog. 



In illustration of the services of the Dog in the earliest 

 stages of civilization, we cannot refrain from quoting the 

 facts and reflections in relation to the genus to be found in 

 Mr. Burchell's Travels in Africa: 



" Our pack of Dogs " says he, " consisted of about five- 

 and-twenty of various sorts and sizes. This variety, though 

 not altogether intentional, as I was obliged to take any 

 that could be procured, was of the greatest service on such 

 an expedition, as I observed that some gave notice of dan- 

 ger in one way, and others in another. Some were more dis- 

 posed to watch against men, and others against wild beasts; 

 some discovered an enemy by their quickness of hearing, 

 others by that of scent : some for speed in pursuing game ; 

 some were useful only for their vigilance and barking ; 

 and others for their courage in holding ferocious animals at 

 bay. So large a pack was not, indeed, maintained without 

 adding greatly to our care and trouble, in supplying them 



Vol. II. Y 



