AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 



51 



Var. X. Artois Dog. Nearly approaching, and per- 

 haps derived from R. , now extinct. 

 Y. Andalusian Dog. C. f. andalusia. Desm. 



Chien de cayenne. 

 Z. Barbary Dog. C. f. segyptius. Linn. Chien 

 iurc. BuFFON. 



It will be perceived, that this list only includes the well- 

 marked varieties ; there are hundreds of others, of which it 

 is impossible to give any distinctive characters. Most of 

 these are termed Mongrels, and by the French, cheins 

 de rue. 



When we consider even these varieties, it is evident, that 

 the modifications of the original species have been immense, 

 and that they have existed for so great a length of time, as 

 to render it almost impossible to come to any definite con- 

 clusion on the subject ; since, however, the shape of the 

 head has attracted the attention of naturalists, it has been 

 found that some domesticated Dogs correspond in this part 

 of their configuration with the wild species much more than 

 others, rendering it more than probable, that they are all 

 collateral ramifications of the same original stock. 



At the same time that this is admitted, it must be confess- 

 ed that, the perplexities attendant on this intricate point, 

 although lessened, are by no means removed; for the ques- 

 tion immediately recurs, what is this original stock, or 

 primitive species ? Is it the shepherd's Dog, as supposed 

 by Buifon ; or, did it arise from a union between the seve- 

 ral species of the genus Canis ; or finally, is it one or other 

 of these species, modified by domestication, and other con- 

 curring circumstances ? 



From some experiments, which appear to have been con- 

 ducted with great care, Buffon is of opinion as before stated, 

 that the wolf and the fox are widely different in their 

 natures from the Dog, and that their species are so distinct 

 and remote from each other, as to prevent any sexual inter- 

 course, at least, in a state of captivity, and observes " that 

 the Dog did not derive his origin from either the wolf 

 or the fox, and that those who regard these two animals as 

 wild dogs, or who imagine the Dog to be a wolf or fox be- 

 come domesticated, have deceived themselves." 



In this, however, Buffon himself fell into an error, as 

 Pennant, Daniel, Pallas, and others, all bring proofs that in- 

 tercourse has taken place among the various species of 

 the Dog kind and their congenus, but also, that these occur- 

 rences are by no means uncommon. In a menagerie, 

 which was exhibited in 1828, in England, were two ani- 

 mals, from a cross between the wolf and the domestic Dog, 

 which had been bred in that country. A similar circum- 

 stance is related by the celebrated John Hunter, in the 

 Philosophical Transactions for 1787, and he thinks that it 

 establishes the fact of the wolf and the Dog being of the 



same species; and, on the same ground, deduces the iden- 

 tity of the Dog and the jackal. This idea is also held by 

 Pennant, who says, that the original stock of Dogs in the 

 old world, is derived from the above mentioned animals, 

 and that their tamed offspring, crossed with each other and 

 with their parent stock, have gradually given rise to the 

 numerous forms and sizes of the canine race. 



There is one great obstacle to the adoption of these opi- 

 nions, arising from the manner in which all varieties of the 

 Dog carry their tails, differing in this respect from all the 

 other species of the genus. Even the Esquimaux Dog, 

 which is in a half reclaimed state, invariably carries his 

 tail turned upward, whilst in the wolf of the same district, 

 which he so closely resembles, it generally drops, espe- 

 cially when running. Dr. Richardson, however, states, 

 " that the latter practice (of curving the tail upwards) is not 

 totally unknown to the wolf; although that animal, when 

 under the observation of man, being generally apprehensive 

 of change, or on the watch, seldom displays this mark of 

 satisfaction. I have, however, seen a family of wolves play- 

 ing together, occasionally carry their tails curled upwards." 



From a careful investigation of all the information we 

 have been able to attain on this point, the opinion of Buffon, 

 that the Dog is a separate and distinct species, appears the 

 most plausible, though whether the shepherd's Dog was 

 the original stock from which the numberless varieties 

 now existing are derived, is very problematical. 



The wild Dogs now found in various parts of the world, 

 all appear to have originated from some of the domestic 

 varieties, and to be easily reclaimable, never losing their 

 respect for the human species. In fact, these animals never 

 voluntarily separate themselves from man; even where they 

 have no individual masters, they still frequent his abode. 

 Thus they are found in this half-wild state in Lisbon, and 

 in most of the Asiatic cities. In Cuba and India, however, 

 they have partially assumed their native habits, hunting in 

 packs, attacking and overcoming much superior animals, 

 from their numbers. 



The females go with young about sixty-three days, and 

 generally produce from three to five at a birth, though, in 

 some instances, the litters are much larger. The puppies 

 are born blind, the eye being closed with a membranous 

 substance, which, in about nine or ten days, is ruptured 

 by the action of the upper eyelid. They also have their 

 muzzle short and full, even in the varieties having elon- 

 gated faces, as the greyhound: at the end of two months 

 they begin to display their character, and to grow rapidly. 

 In the fifth and sixth month they commence to shed their 

 teeth, which are replaced, as in man, with others, which 

 are never renewed. In the first months of their existence, 

 both sexes discharge their urine in squatting down, but 



