484 The American Naturalist. [j tt ne, 



on both sides. On the one hand though 

 rapid improvement, is a characteristic of certain races of men, 

 yet there are numerous races whose improvement is either 

 stationary or incredibly slow. They are to other men, what 

 the Lingula, which has remained unchanged since Cambrian 

 times is to other invertebrates. There are savages still in 

 the age of unpolished stone; savages whose religion is the 

 lowest fetich worship ; savages whose only refuge is a skin 

 spread over a few sticks, and others to whom any kind of 

 shelter is unknown. Some progress they have all made from 

 the furry arboreal animal with pointed ears, but it has been a 

 progress immeasurably behind that of the higher races of 

 man. " Rapid and continuous improvement," in the words of 

 Mr. Romanes, " is a characteristic of only a small division of 

 " the human race, during the last few hours, as it were, of its 

 existence." The wonder is that with articulate language, man 

 should have improved so slowly. 



On the other hand it would be impossible to deny the great 

 improvement which has taken place in the mental and moral 

 qualities of the dog, when we compare him with the wolves 

 and jackals from which he is descended. He has won for 

 himself a tribute of praise from some of our noblest poets ; a 

 tribute richly due to his devoted love and fidelity. Hear 

 Wordsworth's lament : 



loughts that were 



hich thou hadst thy share, 



ns vouchsafed to thee, 



And Byron writes not less warmly: 



" The poor dog, in life the firmest frie 

 The first to welcome, foremost to deft 



