THE DOG. 
IIISTORY OF BREEDS AND CHARACTERISTICS. 
CHAPTER I. 
Vri K in of the dog-Usefulness of the dog to man— The English Setter— The Irish Setter -Tha 
Gordon Setter— The Native Setter-The Dropper-The Pointer— The Spaniel— The New- 
foundland dog-The Mastiff — The Lull dog-The Blood liound-The Fox liound-The Beagle 
-Tl.e Sheep dog-The Greyhound— The Dalmatian or Coach dog-The Scotch Terrier- -Tha 
English Terrier— The Skye Terrier— The Poodle. 
HISTORY AND BREEDS. 
In both the Old and _New Testaments the dog is spoken of almost with 
abhorrence; everywhere it is designated unclean and an abomination, and yet 
man has no’ surer or more tried friend, ever on the guard to protect the prop- 
erty and person of his master. It appears to have been the great object of 
the Israelites to engender this hatred, in order to prevent the idolizing and 
worshipping of the dog as was practised by their neighbors and early masters, 
the Egyptians. 
Considerable dispute exists with regard to the qrigin of the dog. Many 
naturalists trace him to the wolf, others to the jackal, and some to the Dingo 
and Pariah; but no satisfactory conclusion has been arrived at. There is, 
however, but little doubt that the wolf and dog are varieties of the same 
family, as they can be crossed, and their offspring continuing the cross thm 
made will produce a race entirely different from the original. A circumstance 
in favor of the common origin of the two quadrupeds is the existence in our 
own country of the prairie wolf, who whines and barks in a manner so similar 
to small dogs, that it is almost impossible to distinguish his voice from that of 
the terrier. 
Judging from the fact that almost every country has its wild dog or wolf, 
it may not be amiss to conclude that the many varieties of dog now existing 
have their common origin in either the one or the other, and which by adapta- 
tion to surrounding circumstances, and care in breeding, have attained their 
present high standard of excellence. 
In Northern India the wild dogs of Nepal hunt in packs; have an exquisite 
sense of smell ; give tongue after the manner of the hound, and show wonderful 
intelligence iu the chase, and can be domesticated when caught at an early age, 
D01 
