LWELLS. ,,--= •' -^ 



The Wolf, from a specimen in the Zoological Gardens. 



INTBODUCTOKY CHAPTER. 



Origin — General Characteristics — Habitat— Varieties — F. • Cuvier's Divisional 

 Arrangement — Arrangement adopted by the Author. 



From the earliest times we have. reason to believe that the dog has 

 been the faithful companion and assistant of man in all parts of the 

 world, and his fidelity and attachment are so remarkable as to have 

 become proverbial. Before the introduction of agriculture, it was 

 by means of the hunting powers of this animal that man was 

 enabled to support himself by pursuing the wild denizens of the 

 forest ; for though now, with the aid of gunpowder, he can in great 

 measure dispense with the services of his assistant, yet, until the 



