ANIMALS OF NORTH AMERICA. 35 
ing beasts of the forest and the desert. But as so much has 
been, and is continually being written on the subject, and as 
every one knows numerous anecdotes connected with this 
animal, we will confine ourselves strictly to the true American 
or Esquimaux dog : He is large and powerful, equalling the 
mastiff in size ; hair long and thick, tail long and bushy, and 
turned over the back; ears short, pointed, and erect. And 
here, speaking of his tail being turned over his back, let us 
mention that the domestic dog is distinguished from the other 
species of this tribe, by his recurved tail, — this member in the 
others being straight. This is the dog which draws sleighs, 
or sledges in Arctic phrase, and transports loads from place 
to place, with one or more persons in them, over the frozen 
snows. He is good-tempered and very enduring, and though 
often cruelly treated, is still willing to do everything in his 
power at the command of his master. What the camel is to 
the Arabians, and the reindeer to the Laplanders, the Esqui- 
maux dog is to the inhabitants of the Arctic regions. These 
creatures seem designed to work in the harness, and hence, it 
is said, perform their duty almost instinctively, requiring but 
