AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 
51 
Var. X. Artois Dog. Nearly approaching, and per- 
haps derived from R., now extinct. 
Y. Andalusian Dog. C. f. andalusia. Desm. 
Chien de cayenne. 
Z. Barbary Dog. C. f. segyptius. Linn. Chien 
turc. Btjefon. 
It will be perceived, that this list only includes the well- 
marked varieties; there are hundreds of others, of which it 
is impossible to give any distinctive characters. Most of 
these are termed Mongrels, and by the French, chiens 
de rue. 
When we consider even these varieties, it is evident, that 
the modifications of the original species have been immense, 
and that they have existed for so great a length of time, as 
to render it almost impossible to come to any definite con- 
clusion on the subject; since, however, the shape of the 
head has attracted the attention of naturalists, it has been 
found that some domesticated Dogs correspond in this part 
of their configuration with the wild species much more than 
others, rendering it more than probable, that they are all 
collateral ramifications of the same original stock. 
At the same time that this is admitted, it must be confess- 
ed that the perplexities attendant on this intricate point, 
although lessened, are by no means removed, for the ques- 
tion immediately recurs, what is this original stock, or 
primitive species ? Is it the shepherd’s Dog, as supposed 
by BufFon; or, did it arise from a union between the seve- 
ral species of the genus Canis; or finally, is it one or other 
of these species, modified by domestication, and other con- 
curring circumstances? 
From some experiments, which appear to have been 
conducted with great care, BufFon is of opinion, as before 
stated, that the wolf and the fox are widely different in 
their natures from the Dog, and that their species are so 
distinct and remote from each other, as to prevent any sex- 
ual intercouse, at least, in a state of captivity, and observes 
“that the Dog did not derive his origin from either the 
wolf or the fox, and that those who regard these two ani- 
mals as wild dogs, or who imagine the Dog to be a wolf or 
fox become domesticated, have deceived themselves. 
In this, however, BufFon himself fell into an error, as 
Pennant, Daniel, Pallas, and others, all bring proofs that 
intercourse has taken place among the various species of 
the Dog kind and their congenus, but also, that these occur- 
rences are by no means uncommon. In a menagerie, 
which was exhibited in 1828, in England, were two ani- 
mals, from a cross between the wolf and the domestic Dog, 
which had been bred in that country. A similar circum- 
stance is related by the celebrated John Hunter, in the 
Philosophical Transactions for 1787, and he thinks that it 
establishes the fact of the wolf and the Dog being of the 
same species; and, on the same ground, deduces the iden- 
tity of the Dog and the jackal. This idea is also held by 
Pennant, who says, that the original stock of Dogs in the 
old world, is derived from the above mentioned animals, 
and that their tamed offspring, crossed with each other and 
with their parent stock, have gradually given rise to the 
numerous forms and sizes of the canine race. 
There is one great obstacle to the adoption of these opi- 
nions, arising from the manner in which all varieties of the 
Dog carry their tails, differing in this respect from all the 
other species of the genus. Even the Esquimaux Dog, 
which is in a half-reclaimed state, invariably carries his 
tail turned upward, whilst in the wolf of the same district, 
which he so closely resembles, it generally drops, espe- 
cially when running. Dr. Richardson, however, states, 
“ that the latter practice (of curving the tail upwards) is not 
totally unknown to the wolf; although that animal, when 
under the observation of man, being generally apprehensive 
of change, or on the watch, seldom displays this mark of 
satisfaction. I have, however, seen a family of wolves play- 
ing together, occasionally carry their tails curled upwards.” 
From a careful investigation of all the information we 
have been able to attain on this point, the opinion of Buffon, 
that the Dog is a separate and distinct species, appears the 
most plausible, though whether the shepherd’s dog was 
the originial stock from which the numberless varieties 
now existing are derived, is very problematical. 
The wild dogs now found in various parts of the world, 
all appear to have originated from some of the domestic 
varieties, and to be easily reclaimable, never losing their 
respect for the human species. In fact, these animals never 
voluntarily separate themselves from man; even where they 
have no individual masters, they still frequent his abode. 
Thus they are found in this half-wild state in Lisbon, and 
in most of the Asiatic cities. In Cuba and India, however, 
they have partially assumed their native habits, hunting in 
packs, attacking and overcoming much superior animals, 
from their numbers. 
The females go with young about sixty-three days, and 
generally produce from three to five at a birth, though, in 
some instances, the litters are much larger. The puppies 
are born blind, the eye being closed with a membranous 
substance, which, in about nine or ten days, is ruptured 
by the action of the upper eye-lid. They also have their 
muzzle short and full, even in the varieties having elon- 
gated faces, as the greyhound; at the end of two months 
they begin to display their character, and to grow rapidly. 
In the fifth and sixth month they commence to shed their 
teeth, which are replaced, as in man, with others, which 
are never renewed. In the first months of their existence, 
both sexes discharge their urine in squatting down, "but 
