26 
ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 
Dog " was perhaps formerly generally spread over the 
northern parts of America; but being fitted only for 
the chase, it has, since the introduction of guns, gra- 
dually given way to the mongrel race sprung from the 
Esquimaux, Newfoundland, and this very breed, with 
occasional intermixture of European kinds." It seems 
at present to be peculiar to the Hare-Indians and other 
tribes frequenting the banks of the Mackenzie River and 
Great Bear Lake, in the neighbourhood of which our 
enterprising countrymen. Captain Sir John Franklin and 
Dr. Richardson, wintered with their party, previously 
to setting forth on their late hazardous but eminently 
successful expedition to explore the northern coasts of 
the American continent. A pair of these graceful and 
elegant animals were brought away by the travellers 
on their return, and presented to the Society soon after 
their arrival in England, where the third was whelped. 
These, we believe, are the only individuals of the race 
that have ever been seen in Europe. Their air of 
frank and unsuspecting confidence is combined with 
an unusual share of gentleness and good temper. They 
seem perfectly at their ease and soon become familiar 
even with strangers. In their native country they are 
never known to bark, and this peculiarity is still re- 
tained by the elder dogs ; but the younger one, which 
was born in this country, has learned to imitate the 
language of its fellows. They appear to be extremely 
valuable to the Indians by whom they are bred, who 
subsist almost entirely on the produce of the chase. 
The Hare-Indian Dog," says Dr. Richardson, " has 
neither courage nor strength to fit it for pulling down 
any of the larger animals ; but its broad feet and light 
make enable it to run over the snow without sinking, 
if the slightest crust is formed on it, and thus easily 
to overtake and tease the Moose or Reindeer, and keep 
them at bay until the hunters come up." 
