CHAPTER IV. 
THE HOG— THE ESQUIMAUX OR ARCTIC DOG, ITS HABITS &c„ AND 
FACTS RELATIVE TO IT, RECORDED BY RAE AND KANE : ITS USE 
IN SLEIGHING— THE FOX, HABITS, AND ANECDOTE OF ITS CUN- 
NING, OR FOXINESS. 
Of the American dog there are supposed to be eight species 
indigenous, though this is as jet an open question ; the wolf, 
the fox, and the jackal, being each claimed as the originator 
of the species, in different countries. 
Description . — Six cutting teeth in each jaw, — canine teeth 
four, one on each side of either jaw ; — tongue, soft ; five toes 
on the fore-feet, four on the hind feet : they never sweat ; 
drink by lapping. 
The Lagopus , a native of Greenland and Spitzbergen, is 
supposed to be the true originator. In this animal, the Arc- 
tic dog, we find an illustration of the alteration of species in 
connection with civilization, not only in its variety of form, 
but from the established fact, that the Esquimaux dogs had 
never been known to bark until they heard their domestic 
cousins, which accompanied the discovery ships of Arctic 
expeditions, giving tongue, and so, by imitatiQn, acquired the 
habit, now as common to them as to our canine followers. 
The conquest of the dog is the most complete, singular, and 
useful ever made from the animal kingdom by man. The 
whole species has become his property ; each individual is 
devoted to his master ; assumes his manners, knows and 
defends his property, and remains his true friend till death ; 
and all this from the purest friendship, and even in spite of 
starvation and cruelty. Of all animals, this is the only one 
which has followed man in every condition through all the 
regions of the globe, and been his defence against the prowl- 
