THB DOG, 



canine races, may be tlius stated : the stnicture of the animal 

 is identical, or so nearly, as to afford the strongest a priori 

 evidence in its favour. The dog must have been derived from 

 an animal susceptible in the highest degree of domestication, 

 and capable of great affection for mankind ; which has 'been 

 abundantly proved by the wolf. Dogs having returned to a 

 wild state, and continued in that condition through many gene- 

 rations, exhibit characters which approximate more and more 

 to those of the wolf, in proportion as the influence of domestica- 

 tion ceases to act." 



One of the most decided objectors to the above theory is 

 Mr. Bichardson, and though that gentleman may not be ko 

 profound a naturalist as Bell or Cuvier, he gives instances 

 as well as opinions, and, on that account, at least, his evidence 

 is valuable. His arguments are terse, energetic, and to the 

 point : — 



" I positively deny this assumed identity of structm-e. The 

 intestines of the wolf are considerably shorter than those of thf 

 dog, evidently marking him as an animal of more strictly car- 

 nivorous habits. The orbits are placed higher and more forward 

 in the skull. The proportion between the bones of the hind 

 legs differs ; so does the number of toes. The structure of the 

 teeth is different, these being in the wolf much larger, and the 

 molar teeth of the upper and under jaw being adapted to each 

 other, in the wolf, in a peculiar «cissors-like manner, rendering 

 them infinitely more serviceable for breaking bones — a structure 

 not found in the dog. 



" The wolf is not ' susceptible of the highest degree of domes- 

 tioatimi, anA capable of great affection for mankind, which has 

 been abundantly proved of the dog.' "When has it been proved ? 

 I have seen many so-called ' tame wolves,' but never one that 

 might be trusted, or that did not, when opportunity offered, 

 return to his fierce nature and wild habits. The whelps, too, 

 produced by these partially domesUcated wolves, are not in the 

 smallest degree influenced by the domestication of their parents. 

 The Eoyal Zoological Society of Ireland had, some years ago, 

 in their gardens in the Phoenix Park, a pair of very tame wolves. 

 These produced young, which became tame likewise, and, in 

 their turn, produced cubs. The society very kindly presented 

 me with one of the last-mentioned cubs, which, though only 

 five weeks old when I took him from his dam, was as fierce 

 and violent in his own little way as the most savage denizen 

 of the forest. I brought up this animal among my dogs ; foi 



