26 D0GS - Chap. I. 



extinct mammals, so that its introduction must have been 

 ancient. 27 



From this resemblance in several countries of the half- 

 domesticated dogs to the wild species still living there, — from the 

 facility with which they can often be crossed together,— from 

 even half-tamed animals being so much valued by savages — . 

 and from the other circumstances previously remarked on which 

 favour their domestication, it is highly probable that the do- 

 mestic dogs of the world have descended from two good species 

 of wolf (viz. C. lupus and C. latrans), and from two or three other 

 doubtful species of wolves (namely, the European, Indian and 

 North African forms) ; from at least one or two South American 

 canine species ; from several races or species of the jackal ; and 

 perhaps from one or more extinct species. Those authors who 

 attribute great influence to the action of climate by itself 

 may thus account for the resemblance of the domesticated 

 dogs and native animals in the same countries ; but I know 

 of no facts snpporting the belief in so powerful an action of 

 climate. 



It cannot be objected to the view of several canine species 

 having been anciently domesticated, that these animals are 

 tamed with difficulty: facts have been already given on this 

 head, but I may add that the young of the Canis primmvus of 

 India were tamed by Mr. Hodgson, 28 and became as sensible to 

 caresses, and manifested as much intelligence, as any sporting- 

 dog of the same age. There is not much difference, as we have 

 already shown and shall immediately further see, in habits between 

 the domestic dogs of the North American Indians and the wolves 

 of that country, or between the Eastern pariah dogs and jackals, 

 or between the dogs which have run wild in various countries 

 and the several natural species of the family. The habit of 

 barking, however, which is almost universal with domesticated 



27 Selwyn, Geology of Victoria; also differs from the Dingo. 

 'Journal of Geolog. Soc.,' vol. xiv., 28 « Proceedings Zoolog. Soc.,' 1833, 

 1858, p. 536, and vol. xvi., 1860, p. 148 ; p. 112. See, also, on the taming of the 

 and Prof. M'Coy, in 'Annals and Mag. common wolf, L. Lloyd, « Scandinavian 

 of Nat. Hist.' (3rd series), vol. ix., 1862, Adventures,' vol. i. p. 460, 1854. With 

 p. 147. The Dingo differs from the respect to the jackal, see Prof. Gervais, 

 dogs of the central Polynesian islands. ' Hist. Nat. Mamm,' torn. ii. p. 61. With 

 Dieffenbach remarks (' Travels,' vol. ii. respect to the aguara of Paraguay, see 

 p. 45) that the native New Zealand dog Eengger's work. 



