REVIEWS OF RECENT BOOKS 267 



animals. In every country dogs have been the object of superstitition, 

 sometimes of a good omen, sometimes of a bad one. Residents in 

 China are well aquainted with the beating and clanging of the hangs, 

 during an eclipse, to drive away the dog which threatens to eat 

 the luminary. Hence the word eclipse is made of eat and a quadruped. 

 Dogs are intimately connected with lions for there are dog-lions, 

 and the word lion in Chinese is formed of the radical dog and the 

 sound shih. So no work treating of dogs can avoid the allied creature 

 the lion. And author of this work devotes considerable space to this 

 noble animal. Indeed it would be fitting if the word lion had been 

 added to the title. 



The dog equally with the dragon, and other beasts, finds an im- 

 portant place in the mythology of the human race : the dragon 

 remain a myth still, but the dog has passed from that sphere of our 

 thinking, since he is with us daily in a concrete form. Nevertheless he 

 has played a part in the myths of the past too. A myth of dog ancestry 

 is not uncommon as in Alaska, in Madagascar and even in Europe. He 

 figures too in Creation myths : and Cerberus guards the gates of the 

 Infernal Regions. Yama had two dogs who were sent to bring in 

 wandering souls. The dog in many mythologies is held as a sacred 

 animal, being under the special protection of the gods, and its sanctity 

 is also seen in the art of many peoples. Hence it has been used 

 in sacrifice, and, was often considered as of good omen. Not only 

 so but he has found a. place in magic : for in Dahomey the carcass 

 of a. dog is hung up to ward off sorcery. On the other hand he has 

 been held by man} as an unclean animal. And it has not infrequently 

 been used as a term of abuse : "Is thy servant a dog?" And even 

 in England where the dog has been most highly esteemed this is not 

 unknown. Potentates and paupers have found comfort in the com- 

 panionship of dogs. Now whether man first tamed dogs and thus 

 domesticated them, or, whether the dog felt out of place in the 

 company of the wolf is a matter still undecided, but the fact is 

 indisputable that man and dog are great friends. Not all these facts 

 however are to be found within the covers of this book, but he who 

 would know much about all dogs, and particularly about the special 

 breeds of Chinese dogs, and how varieties and special marks, such as the 

 short nose have been produced will find much information in this 

 excellent book. 



There is a serious error in the Table Of Dates. The last item 

 states : "1862 Chinese Emperor Kuang Su came to the throne." 

 This should be T'ung Chili. Kuang Hsu came to the throne in 1875. 

 T'ung Chih is omitted altogether. 



