WILD DOGS. 
349 
animal of this kind sometimes follows the 
caravans from Bassora to Aleppo. The 
Arabs call it Shab, and stand in great fear 
of it, asserting that its bite is invariably 
fatal. Authors have attempted to account 
for this fact by supposing the creatures to be 
mad ; but, as animals in a state of hydro¬ 
phobia are never known to associate to¬ 
gether, this does not seem a very probable 
solution. The bite of all the wild canines 
is very severe and dangerous, owing to their 
great strength, the sharpness of their teeth 
and the pertinacity with which they retain 
their hold.” 
“All dogs are dangerous,” pronounced 
Matilda, half aside, to Sidney, who was play¬ 
ing with little Bruno’s ears. “ You never 
know when they will get mad.” 
“ That is the case with some other things 
besides dogs,” replied Sidney, mischievously. 
Matilda turned to her work again with the 
air of injured innocence which she always 
assumed when any of her speeches were 
repaid in kind. 
“ There are several races of wild dogs in¬ 
habiting the islands of the Indian Ocean,” 
continued Miss Louisa,—“one of which 
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