DOG belongs to the division Vertebrata, and the class Mammalia. It is also in the order Fera,
the family Fdida, and the sub-family Canina, which in- cludes the dog, wolf, jackal, and fox. This sub-family is distinguished by having two tubercular teeth behind its canine teeth in the upper jaw ; and the Canisfamiliaris has the pupils of the eye round, while in the fox they are
like those of the cat, perpendicular slits, and in the wolf
oblique ones. Volumes have been written on the origin of the dog, but our knowledge on this subject may easily be summed up in one little word, ;///; I shall therefore not inflict upon the readers of this book all the various arguments pro and con; suffice it to say, that the dog is now an inhabitant chiefly of cold and temperate climates; that it rapidly degenerates if transported to a very warm one, as is seen in India and China, but that it will bear every climate from the Arctic circle to the Equator without loss of life. The dog is a carnivorous animal by nature, though he will feed upon and devour any vegetable sub- stance that comes in his way if pressed by hunger. In his domesticated state he thrives best upon a mixed diet, and is usually considered, and with truth, as omnivorous. His teeth are fitted for tearing flesh, and he has no true grinders suited to bruise grain ; his stomach is a simple one, and his intestines are of a medium length between the short ones of the true Carnivora, and the long ones of the graminivorous quadrupeds. It is impossible to fix the epoch, as we have said, when She dog became the servant of man. The oldest traditions, the most ancient historical documents, show us the dog reduced to a state of domesticity. Thus it may be said that the dog forms an integral part of mankind.
This is what Toussenel has well said : " Ce qu'il y a de meilleur dans 1'homme, c'est le chien." The dog possesses all the qualities of intelligence and spirit. Where can we find a more certain, more constant, or more de- voted friendship, a more faithful memory, a stronger
attachment, more sincere abnegation, a mind more loyal and frank ? The dog does not know what ingratitude is. He does not abandon his benefactor in danger or adversity. With joy he offers to sacrifice his life for those who feed him. He pushes his devotion so far as to for- get himself. He does not recall the corrections, the unkind treatment, to which he has been subjected ; he thirsts for caresses, while the indifference of those who are dear to him plunges him into deep distress. Noble creature ! the favourite of the rich, consolation of the poor, inseparable companion of the unfortunate ; thanks to thee, the miserable individual who dies alone in the midst of society, counts at least one friend at his melancholy funeral; he does not descend alone into the cold grave, for thou comest to shed on his tomb the sin- cere tears of affection and regret, and such is the excess of thy grief, that no one can tear thee from that spot where sleeps the corpse of him thou lovest ! And what intelligence ! what penetration ! \ft&.\. finesse is there in this admirable companion of our gladness
and_ sorrow! How well he can read countenances; how skilfully he knows how to interpret the sentiments con- veyed in gestures and words ! In vain you may threaten, in vain try to frighten him. Your eye betrays you ; that smile, which scarcely appears upon your lips, has un- masked your feelings ; and so far from fearing and avoiding you, he comes to solicit your attention.
Volumes might be written, if desirable, relating all the extraordinary stories of which dogs are the heroes. Every day, in ordinary life, we see something of this kind, and which, although of so frequent occurrence, is none the less curious. Is it necessary to recall to memory the dog of Ulysses, the model of fidelity ; the dog of Montargis, the vanquisher of crime; of Munito, the brilliant player at dominoes? Must we mention the Newfoundland dog and the dog of Mount St. Bernard, both of them preservers of human life ? Is it necessary
to speak of intelligent dogs going for provisions for their master, and assisting him in his duties with ability ; of the shoeblack's dog, trained to plant his muddy paws on the best polished boots, so as to bring more business to his master, the man of the brush? We should never come to an end if we attempted to register all the exploits of this valuable companion of man. Dogs are digitigrade, or walk on their toes ; their claws are not retractile they have five toes on the fore-feet and generally four on the hind ones.
The tongue of the dog is smooth, not lacerating like that of the cat ; its application to wounds has a healing ten- dency when the animal is in health. Dogs live on an
average about fourteen or fifteen years.
