2 The Dog and its Habits. 
one, and his intestines are of a medium length between 
the short ones of the true Carnivora, and the long ones 
of the graminivorous quadrupeds. 
It is impossible to fix the epoch, as we have said, when 
the dog became the servant of man. The oldest tradi- 
tions, the most ancient historical documents, show us the 
dog reduced to a state of domesticity. Thus it may be 
said that the dog forms an integral part of mankind. 
This is what Toussenel has well said: “Ce quil ya de 
meilleur dans Phomme, c’est le chien.” The dog pos- 
sesses all the qualities of intelligence and spirit. Where 
can we find a more certain, more constant, or more de- 
voted friendship, a more faithful memory, a stronger 
attachment, more sincere abnegation, a mind more loyal 
and frank? The dog does not know what ingratitude is. 
He does not abandon his benefactor in danger or adver- 
sity. With joy he offers to sacrifice his life for those 
who feed him. He pushes his devotion so far as to for- 
get himself. He does not recall the corrections, the 
unkind treatment, to which he has been subjected; he 
thirsts for caresses, while the indifference of those who 
are dear to him plunges him into deep distress. Noble 
‘ creature! the favourite of the rich, consolation of the 
poor, inseparable companion of the unfortunate; thanks 
to thee, the miserable individual who dies alone in the 
midst of society, counts at least one friend at his me- 
lancholy funeral; he does not descend alone into the 
cold grave, for thou comest to shed on his tomb the sin- 
cere tears of affection and regret, and such is the excess 
of thy grief, that no one can tear thee from that spot 
where sleeps the corpse of him thou lovest! 
And what intelligence! what penetration ! what Jinesse 
is there in this admirable companion of our gladness 
and. sorrow! How well he can read countenances; how 
skilfully he. knows how to interpret the sentiments con- 
veyed in gestures and words! In vain you may threaten, 
in vain try to frighten him. Your eye betrays you; that 
smile, which scarcely appears upon your lips, has un- 
masked your feelings ; and so far from fearing and avoid- 
ing you, he comes to solicit your attention, 
