96 The Carnivora. 
\ 
young of wild dogs, and frequently the adult animals them- 
selves, enter into association with us more easily than any 
other of the land carnivora. I am told by the keepers in the 
Zoological Gardens that they can do almost as they like with 
the wolves, in the collection after some little acquaintance with 
them, though these animals have come straight from Asia or 
America, and their first real acquaintance with the human 
species has been under every disadvantage. A very powerful 
black Tibetan wolf, which at first rushed at the bars of the 
cage with all his teeth bared whenever the keeper passed, and 
displayed the utmost ferocity, soon became as docile and 
affectionate towards him as many domestic dogs. 
None of the cats can be thus approached. I handled (in the 
presence of the mother) a dingo pup, born in the Gardens, 
without provoking her resentment. She retired shyly into a 
corner of her den, while the young one behaved with me in 
the friendly manner of a domestic puppy. During a recent 
visit to the kennel of Mr. W. K. Taunton, who was good enough 
to invite me to inspect a dingo he had recently imported direct 
from Australia, I had another opportunity of seeing how mild 
the manners of a wild species may become after very slight 
association with man. This formidable animal—a truly magni- 
ficent specimen of the species—on being let out in the presence 
of Mr. Taunton and myself by the keeper, took a run round the 
yard, and then made a critical examination of my trousers with 
his nose, and no doubt came to the conclusion that I was the 
possessor of a dog. He allowed me to handle him freely, 
seemed pleased with the attention, and paid me the compliment 
of taking my hand into his mouth, and mumbling it somewhat 
roughly, but obviously in playful mood. His lively and sociable 
manner indicated very clearly his satisfaction with his new 
human acquaintance; yet this dog not very long previously 
had been running wild in the Australian bush, hunting kan- 
garoos, and regarding man as a diabolical creature, always 
galloping about on horses and keeping dingoes in a state of 
perpetual alarm. 
