% 9 B HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



In wild animals, which ftill enjoy their original freedom 

 from reftraint, and have the independent choice of food 

 and climate, this impreffion is ftill faithfully preferved •, 

 but thofe which man has fubdued, tranfported from cli- 

 mate to climate, changed their food, habits, and manner 

 of living, muft neceflarily have fuffered the greateft alte- 

 rations in their form ; and as the Dog, of all other do- 

 me (lie animals, is mod accuftomed to this influence, is 

 endowed with difpofitions the mod docile and obedient, 

 is fufceptible of every impreffion, and fubmiffive to every 

 reftraint, we need not wonder that he fhould be fubjeel: 

 to the greateft variety. — To an attentive obferver of the 

 canine race, it is truly wonderful and curious to obferve 

 the rapid changes and lingular combinations of forms, 

 arifing from promifcuous intereourfe, which every-where 

 prefent themfelves : They appear in endlefs fucceflion, 

 and feem more like the effect of whimfical caprice, than 

 the regular and uniform production of Nature : So that 

 in whatever light we confider the various mixtures which 

 at prefent abound, and render every idea of a fyftematic 

 arrangement dubious and problematical, we may fairly 

 prefume, that the fervices of the Dog would be firft re- 

 quired in maintaining and preferving the fuperiority of 

 man over thofe animals which were deltined for his fup* 

 port. 



