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CARNIVORA. 
ears erect, have from this circumstance, principally, 
concluded, that the shepherd’s, or wolf-dog, is the 
original root. Since, however, the shape of the head 
has so much excited the attention of naturalists, it 
has been found, that some dogs correspond more in 
this particular with the wild dogs than with any 
domesticated variety ; and the dingo, or New Hol- 
land dog, a half reclaimed animal, and its like, are 
placed at the head of the list, as being supposed to 
be nearest to the wild and original stock. Thus 
Mr. Frederic Cuvier has arranged the varieties of 
the dog, upon this principle, into three groups, each 
differing materially in the shape of the head, and 
the length of the jaws and muzzle. 
Without attempting to determine which of the 
known varieties is the most ancient, or to decide 
upon the claim of pureness of blood and descent, to 
which each may pretend, we shall merely refer to 
the anatomical principles, which form the ground- 
work of this arrangement. 
The first of these, which includes the greyhounds 
and their consimilars, have the head more or less 
elongated ; the parietal bones insensibly approaching 
each other; and the condyles of the lower jaw placed 
in a horizontal line with the upper cheek-teeth. 
The next group of dogs includes much the most 
intelligent, interesting, and useful varieties. Their 
head and jaws are shorter than those proper to the- 
first division, but they are not so completely trun- 
cated as in those of the third. To speak anatomically, 
the parietal bones do not approach each other above 
