60 VEETEBRATES. 



The Genet has, under the tail, and in the very samt place 

 with the civets, an opening, or pouch, in which is separated a kind 

 of perfume resembling civet, but less strong, and apt sooner to 

 evaporate. It is an animal somewhat larger than the martin, which 

 it strongly resembles, not only in the form of the body, but also 

 in disposition and habit, and from which it seems chiefly to differ 

 in being more easily tamed. It is a native of Spain, Africa, and 

 the south of Asia. 



THE DOG TRIBE. 



Under this head are classed Dogs, Wolves, Foxes, Hyaenas, 

 etc The Dog is the companion of man, participates in his plea^ 

 sures, shares his dangers, guards his person and property, and, in 

 short, performs all the various duties which are required of him 

 by his master. The dog is the only animal that is capable of dis- 

 interested affection. He is the only one that regards the human 

 being as his companion, and follows him as his friend ; the only 

 one that seems to possess a natural desire to be useful to him, or 

 from a spontaneous impulse attaches himself to man. We take 

 the bridle from the mouth of the horse, and turn him free into 

 the pasture, and he testifies his joy in his partially recovered 

 liberty. We exact from the dog the service that is required of 

 him, and he still follows us. He solicits to be continued as our 

 companion and our friend. Many an expressive action tells us 

 how much he is pleased and thankful. He shares in our abun- 

 dance, and he is content with the scantiest and most humble fare. 

 He loves us while living, and has been known to pine away on the 

 gravj of his master. 



The genus, or general class in which all the different de- 

 scriptions are comprehended, is thus described by naturalists. The 

 head is flat on the crown, with a lengthened snout ; the claws are 

 long, a little curved, and not retractile ; that is, the dog has not 

 the power of drawing them in, or darting them out, like the cat or 

 the tiger : the females produce many young at once, and these are 

 blind, and, in other respects, not quite formed at birth ; in about 

 two years most of them attain to full maturity, and the general 



