1098 Quadrupeds. 



The most striking natural group, the most marked in its characters, 

 and the most widely diffused of all the known varieties, is that which 

 we may trace from China, over the northern portion of the old conti- 

 nent, to the islands of the Northern Ocean and the northern part of 

 America. In this w T ide extent we find, as we should reasonably anti- 

 cipate, some distinctly marked subdivisions, yet all so evidently main- 

 taining the common type, that the least skilful observer must imme- 

 diately recognize the family resemblance. 



The dogs constituting this group may be thus enumerated : — 

 1. Those of China. 2. Those of Kamskatka, and others of the 

 same stock employed in drawing sledges in the northern parts of Asi- 

 atic Russia. 3. The very distinctly marked variety of dogs occurring 

 in the northern parts of Europe, and which are called Spitz in Ger- 

 many, but which are known as Pomeranian dogs when introduced 

 into France and England. 4. The dogs of Iceland, with which are 

 probably connected those of Lapland and Greenland. And, last- 

 ly, those of the Eskimaux. A very remarkable family likeness is to 

 be detected in all this group, of which perhaps the most striking fea- 

 tures are the sharpened nose, rather small pointed ears, the approach- 

 ing eyes but little projecting, the superior length of hair about the 

 neck, with a greater or less tendency to shagginess on the other parts 

 of the body, and, in most instances, an elevated curled tail, with a 

 temper which may be characterized as restless and irritable. We 

 meet with many varieties in stature, colour and length of hair. Thus 

 it would appear that the dogs of China are often black, the epitelium 

 of the mouth and tongue having the same colour. Those of the north 

 of Europe are almost invariably white or light brown, whilst those of 

 the Eskimaux are often black and white. From China we see speci- 

 mens both of large and of small size, having the same characteristic 

 form. Those of the Eskimaux and Kamskatkadales are of rather a 

 large size, whilst those of Iceland are small, and probably lower in 

 proportion than any other of the group. The dogs of this group ap- 

 pear to differ as widely in their degree of fidelity and docility. The 

 Pomeranian variety, which is perhaps the most completely domesti- 

 cated, is faithful and sagacious and makes an excellent guard, and the 

 smaller specimens become the admired pets of the ladies. From an 

 example which came to my knowledge, I am inclined to believe that 

 the Chinese dogs have the same character. Those of the Eskimaux 

 and Kamskatkadales are chiefly valuable on account of their strength 

 and endurance of fatigue, but they are often ill-tempered and untract- 

 able, and though decidedly sagacious and capable of being trained as 



