NATURAL HISTORY AND ORIGIN OF DOGS. 569 
being for the most part mute, neither howling, nor barking, nor 
giving utterance to their feelings through any other medium than 
their teeth. Several individuals have existed in the gardens of 
the Zoological Society of London for many years, and have never 
acquired the bark of the other dogs by which they are surrounded. 
Mr. Youatt, however, informs us, that when a stranger makes his 
appearance, or when the hour of feeding arrives, the howl of the 
Dingho is the first sound that is heard, and is louder than all the 
rest*. We know that, in a state of freedom, they give forth, from 
time to time, a prolonged and melancholy cry. In spite of their 
savage nature, it seems that they bear a strong affection for each 
other — a good sign surely both of man and beast. For example, 
Mr. Oxley, Surveyor-general of New South Wales, records as 
follows : — 
“About a week ago we killed a native dog, and threw his body 
on a small bush : in returning past the same spot to-day, we found 
the body removed three or four yards from the bush, and the 
female, in a dying state, lying close beside it ; she had apparently- 
been there from the day the dog was killed. Being so weakened 
and emaciated as to be unable to move on our approach, it was 
deemed mercy to despatch herf.” 
We may add, that the Dingho has been domesticated by the 
natives in their own wild way, and aids them in the chase of the 
emu and kangaroo. It is said to breed less easily with the com- 
mon dog than the latter does with the wolf, although occasional 
unions have taken place. The mixed race retains much of the 
wild habits of the Dingho. Professor Low possesses a female 
which produced a litter to a common dog. The progeny were 
handsome and playful, but by no means remarkable for docility. 
They inherited the natural disposition to dig in the ground, as if 
desirous to burrow, and, when mere puppies, began to attack poul- 
try; a habit which never could be curedf. Many of our readers 
may have seen a fine example of this mixed breed in the Edin- 
burgh Zoological Gardens. 
We do not deem it necessary to add to the foregoing examples 
of the existence of sufficiently well-authenticated wild animals of 
the canine race, distinct from each other, and living in a state of 
nature more or less remote from man and man’s dominion. We 
have many more at our command, but the subject is clear enough 
without them. We think it cannot be doubted that the dog, 
viewed in the complex and multifarious states in which it now 
exists, each in its own way so wisely subservient to one or other 
* The Dog, p. 20. f Journal, &c. p. 110. 
f Domesticated Animals, p. 650. 
