CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 5. CARNIVORA, 
211 
I of tlie sledge, with a whip long enough to reach the leader. This whip, however, is used as sel- 
dom as possible ; for these dogs, although tractable, are ferocious, and will endure little correc- 
tion. When the whip is applied with severity on one, he falls upon and worries his neighbor, 
and he, in his turn, attacks a third, and there is a scene of universal confusion ; or the dogs double 
from side to side to avoid the whip, and the traces become entangled, and the safety of the sledge 
endangered. The carriage must then be stopped, each dog put into his proper place, and the 
^ traces readjusted. This frequently happens several times in the course of the day. The driver, 
therefore, depends principally on the docility of the leader, who, Avith admirable precision, quickens 
or slackens his pace, and starts off or stops, or turns to the right or left, at the summons of his 
< master. Wlien they are journeying homeward, or traveling to some spot to which the leader 
f has been accustomed to go, he is generally suffered to pursue his own course ; for, although every 
• "trace of the road is lost in the drifting snow, he scents it out, and follows it Avith undeviating accu- 
racy. Even the leader, hoAvever, is not always under the control of his master. If the journej?^ 
lies homeward, he Avill go his own pace, and that is usually at the top of his speed; or, if any 
game starts, or he scents it at a distance, no command of his driver will restrain him. Neither 
r the dog nor his master is half civilized or subdued." 
The Greenland, and Siberian, and Kamtschatkad ale Dogs are varieties of the Esquimaux or 
^ Arctic dogs, but enlarged in form, and better subdued. The docility of some of these is equal to 
that of any European breed. The folloAving pleasant story is told of one of them : 
"A person of the name of Chabert, Avho Avas afterward better known by the title of 'Fire 
1 King,' had a beautiful Siberian dog, who Avould draAv him in a light carriage tAventy miles a day. 
He asked one thousand dollars for him, and sold him for a considerable portion of that sum ; for 
he Avas a most beautiful animal of his kind, and as docile as he Avas beautiful. BetAveeii the sale 
and the delivery, the dog fell and broke his leg. Chabert, to Avhom the price agreed on was of 
immense consequence, was in despair. He took the dog at night to a veterinary surgeon. He form- 
'< ■ally introduced them to each other. He talked to the dog, pointed to his own leg, limped around 
the room, then requested the surgeon to apply some bandages around the leg, and he seemed to 
walk sound and Avell. He patted the dog on the head, who was looking alternately at him and 
the surgeon, desired the surgeon to pat him, and to offer him his hand to lick, and then, holding 
up his finger to the dog, and gently shaking his head, quitted the room and the house. The dog 
immediately laid himself doAvn, and submitted to a reduction of the fracture, and the bandaging 
of the limb, Avithout a motion, except once or twice licking the hand of the operator. He was 
quite submissive, and iu a manner motionless, day after day, until, at the expiration of a month, 
the limb Avas sound. Not a trace of the fi'acture Avas to be detected, and the purchaser, Avho is 
now living, kncAV nothing about it." 
The Lapland Dog appears to be a very active and sagacious A^ariety of the Arctic breed. 
The Hare Indian Dog. — This species is marked by a sharp muzzle, ears erect and pointed, 
and a lively, cheerful, and pleasing aspect. The hair is white, with patches of grayish black and 
brown. They are good tempered and manageable, and are used by the Hare Indians in the 
neighborhood of Mackenzie's River and the Great Bear Lake, chiefly in the chase. They have 
broad feet and light forms, and thus pass easily over the snow. They run down and overtake the 
moose and deer, and keep them at bay till the hunters come up and dispatch them. They never 
bark ; but one that Avas born and bred in the Zoological Gardens of London barked like other 
dogs. 
The Iceland Dog has a roundish head, ears partly erect and partly pendent ; the fur soft, and 
very long, especially behind the fore-legs and on the tail. It is exceedingly useful to the Ice- 
landers while traveling over the snoAvy deserts of the north. By a kind of intuition it rarely 
fails in choosing the shortest and the safest course. It is also more aware than its master of 
\ the approach of the snow-storms, and is a most valuable ally against the attack of the Polar bear, 
Avho, drifted on masses of ice from the neighboring continent, often commits depredations among 
the cattle, and even attacks human beings. When the dog is first aware of the neighborhood of 
the bear, he sets up a fearful howl, and men and dogs hasten to hunt down and destroy the 
depredator. 
