Chap. I. THEIR PARENTAGE. 19 



from Prof. Kiitimeyer, 9 that during the Neolithic period a 

 domesticated dog of middle size existed, which in its skull was 

 about equally remote from the wolf and jackal, and partook of 

 the characters of our hounds and setters or spaniels (Ja°*dhuncl 

 mid Wachtelhund). Kiitimeyer insists strongly on the con- 

 stancy of form during a very long period of time of this the most 

 ancient known dog. During the Bronze period a larger dog 

 appeared, and this closely resembled in its jaw a dog of the 

 same age in Denmark. Eemains of two notably distinct 

 varieties of the dog were found by Schmerling in a cave ; 10 but 

 their age cannot be positively determined. 



The existence of a single race, remarkably constant in form 

 during the whole Neolithic period, is an interesting fact in 

 contrast with what we see of the changes which the races under- 

 went during the period of the successive Egyptian monuments, 

 and in contrast with our existing dogs. The character of this 

 animal during the Neolithic period, as given by Kiitimeyer, 

 supports De Blainville's view that our varieties have descended 

 from an unknown and extinct form. But we should not forget 

 that we know nothing with respect to the antiquity of man 

 in the warmer parts of the world. The succession of the 

 different kinds of dogs in Switzerland and Denmark is 

 thought to be due to the immigration of conquering tribes 

 bringing with them their dogs ; and this view accords with the 

 belief that different wild canine animals were domesticated in 

 different regions. Independently of the immigration of new 

 races of man, we know from the wide-spread presence of bronze, 

 composed of an alloy of tin, how much commerce there must 

 have been throughout Europe at an extremely remote period, 

 and dogs would then probably have been bartered. At the 

 present time, amongst the savages of the interior of Guiana, 

 the laruma Indians are considered the best trainers of dogs, 

 and possess a large breed, which they barter at a high price 

 with other tribes. 11 r 



The main argument in favour of the several breeds of the 



, l^l*™ d "*^««*.' 1861, n Sir E . Sc]lomburgk has giyen ^ 



10 De Blainville • fWn u- m T form ation on this head. See also 

 Canida,' ' ° Steo S ra P hle > 'Journal of R. Geograph. Soc.,' vol. 



xiii., 1843, p. 65. 



c 2 



