54 
ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 
colour in the upper parts, paler on the sides, and 
almost white on the under surface, on the inside of 
the limbs, and on the muzzle. In strength and agility 
it is superior to most other dogs of the same size, and 
it will attack without the least hesitation those which 
are considerably larger than itself. The individual 
confined in the French Menagerie even evinced a dis- 
position to fly upon the Jaguars, Leopards, and Bears, 
whenever it caught a glimpse of them through the bars 
of its den. That which is described in Phillip's Voyage 
is said to have been so fierce that no other animal could 
approach it with safety. A poor ass had once nearly 
fallen a victim to its savageness of disposition ; and it 
had been known to run down both deer and sheep. 
The ferocity of the New Holland Dog, like that of 
most wild animals, appears to be in a great measure 
the result of his want of confidence in those by whom 
he is surrounded. He rarely becomes perfectly familiar 
even with the individuals who are constantly about 
him ; and of strangers he seems to live in continual 
dread. His constrained and skulking gait ; the startled 
air which he instantly assumes on the slightest unusual 
occurrence ; the suspicious eagerness with which he 
watches the motions of those who approach him ; clearly 
indicate that he is not at his ease in the society of 
civilized man. The specimens in the Garden appear, 
however, to have shaken off some of their original 
wildness, and to have begun to accustom themselves in 
some degree to the circumstances in which they are 
placed. One of them has been for nearly two years in 
the Society's possession ; the second is a much later 
acquisition. 
