THE DOG. 41 



be the sufferers in a very material degree ; for it 

 would often fail to start, or lose during- pursuit, 

 some animal which might otherwise have been 

 captured. 



The study of this communal canine morality 

 is very interesting when considered along with 

 Mr Herbert Spencer's theories of ethics. It is 

 here dwelt upon, however, merely to explain on 

 scientific principles many traits of our domestic 

 dogs, which (as is too commonly the case with 

 those who receive benefits) we are liable to profit 

 by and take for granted. 



The great naturalist Cuvier observed that all 

 animals that readily enter into domestication con- 

 sider man as a member of their own society, and ( 

 thus fulfil their instinct of association. The pro- ^ 

 bable view of the fox-terrier or the dachshund "; 

 which lies upon our hearthrug, therefore, is that f 

 he is one of a pack, the other members of which 

 are the human inhabitants of the house. 



Most interesting would it be, were it possible, 

 to get the dog's precise view of the situation. 

 The chief bar to our doing so is owing to the 

 difficulty of putting our human minds, even in 

 imagination, within the restricting limits of the 

 canine thinking apparatus. Thus we constantly 



