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each individual is altogether devoted to his master, assumes his manners, knows and defends his goods, and remains attached to him until death; and this proceeds neither from want nor restraint, but solely from true gratitude and real friendship. The swiftness, the strength, and the scent of the dog, have created for man a powerful ally against other animals, and were perhaps necessary to the establishment of society. He is the only animal which has followed man through every region of the earth. Cuvier.

Why are dogs considered by some naluralists to be domesticated wolves?

Because the anatomy of both, for the most part, corresponds the wolf is, however, larger and more muscular. Their period of gestation is the same, although differently stated by Goldsmith; which statement led to an inference, that the dog and the wolf were essentially a different species.

Why do dogs bark at beggars?

Because the rags and misery of the poor mendicant induce the imagination of the dog to see in him a robber of his master's house, or one who will be cruel to himself- and he expresses his own fears by a bark.

Why is a house-dog terrified at a naked man?

Because the latter is to the dog an unaccustomed sight.

Why are dogs enabled to bear hunger for a very long time without any serious injury?

Because they have a supply of some substance for the distension of their stomachs; hunger being the effect of the stomach's contraction. Dogs have been known to live for forty days without food, or substitute for food.

Why is the Mackenzie-river dog so valuable to the Indians in the chase?

Because its want of courage and strength to pull down large animals, is more than compensated by its

broad foot and light make, which enable it to run over the snow without sinking, if the slightest crust is formed on it, and, thus, easily to overtake and tear the moose or rein-deer, and keep them at bay till the hunters come up. Dr Richardson. Why is the hare-Indian dog peculiar to the banks of the Mackenzie River?

Because, being only fitted for the chase, it has, since the introduction of guns, gradually given way to the mongrel race, sprung from the Esquimaux, Newfoundland, and this very breed, with occasional intermixture of European kinds. Formerly, perhaps, it was generally spread over the Northern parts of America.- Dr Richardson.

Why do Newfoundland dogs swim better than others? Because they are semi-webbed between the toes; which mechanism of the foot presents an extended surface, to press away the water from behind, and then collapses, when it is drawn forward, previous to making the stroke. Sir Everard Home describes this action as rowing through the water.

Why is the 'wilde hond' of South Africa also called the 'hyana-dog.'

Because it connects the dog and wolf tribe with that of the hyæna. In like manner the gnu forms a graceful link between the buffalo and antelope. Why are the mastiffs of Cuba so highly prized by the natives?

Because they are eminently faithful, and as courageous as they are powerful, although by no means remarkable for their intelligence. They are chosen, in preference to all others, for house-guards and watch-dogs.

Why is the terrier so called?

Because it burrows the earth (terra) in pursuit of foxes. Caius.

Why is the harrier so called?
Because it hunts the hare.

Caius.

Why was the bludhunde, or bloodhound, also called 'slothunde'?

Because slot means the impression left by the foot of the dog in the mire. This dog was remarkable for the acuteness of his smell, tracing any wounded game that had escaped from the hunter, and following the footsteps of the thief, let the distance of his flight be ever so great. The bloodhound was in great request on the confines of England and Scotland, when the borderers were continually preying on the herds and flocks of their neighbours, and was used also by Wallace and Bruce during the civil war. Pennant says, 'there is an order dated, so late as 1616, that no less than nine bloodhounds should be kept on the Border, upon Esk and other places mentioned.'-- The hound is essentially the same as the bloodhound. The fox-hound is a smaller variety, and the harrier is still smaller. — Cuvier. Why is the spaniel so called?

Because the race is derived from Spain; thence, épagneul, French, spaniel, English.

Why is the greyhound the first in rank among dogs? Because, by the forest laws of Canute, it was enacted, that no one, under the degree of a gentleman, should presume to keep a greyhound;' also from an old Welsh saying, which signifies that you may know a gentleman by his hawke, his horse, his grehunde.' The greyhound is feelingly alive to caresses; and, when noticed, the motions of his heart are most violent and irregular. Caius, however, on the authority of Froissart, mentions the following fact, not much to the credit of the fidelity of this species:-When that unhappy prince, Richard II, was taken in Flint Castle, his favourite greyhound immediately deserted him, and fawned on his rival, Bolinbroke; as if he understood and fore

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saw the misfortunes of his former master. act of ingratitude the unfortunate monarch saw, and declared aloud to be the presage of his future death. -Ray, Linnæus, &c, give the name of graius to the greyhound, with which, however, the ancient Greeks do not appear to have been acquainted.' Note to Blumenbach.

Why was the leviner, or lyemmer, so called?

Because of the lightness of the kind, (from levis, light) and the old word lyemme, a thong; this species being used to be led with a thong, and slipped at the game.

Why is the mastife or mastiff so called?

Because it is a species of great size and strength, and a very loud barker; whence mastiff, quasi mase thefese; it being supposed to frighten away robbers by its tremendous bark.

Caius says three mastiffs were a match for a bear, and four for a lion. It appears that Great Britain was so noted for its mastiffs, that the Roman emperors appointed an officer in this island, whose sole business it was to breed, and transmit from hence to the amphitheatre, such dogs as would prove equal to the combats exhibited at that place.

Why was the old English hound so well qualified for hunting?

Because his hearing was very perfect, and his sense of smell was the most exquisite that could be imagined.

Why does the scent in hunting vary on different days?

Because of the varied condition of the ground, and the temperature of the air, which should be moist without being wet. If both are in this state, the scent is said to be perfect. When the ground is hard and dry, there will scarcely be any scent, and it hardly ever lies with a north or an east wind. A southerly wind, without rain, and a westerly one that is not

rough, are the best; a warm day, without sun, is a perfect one. In some fogs the scent lies high; in others not at all. Notes on Science.

THE WOLF.

Why was January called by the Anglo-Saxons ' Wolf-monat' ?

Because, according to Verstegan, 'people were wont always in that moneth to be more in danger to be devoured of wolves, than in any season els of the yeare; for that, through the extremity of cold and snow, those ravenous creatures could not find of other beasts sufficient to feed upon.'

Why are the wolves while in the Arctic regions?

Because, probably, of the severity of the winter season, which causes their loss of colour; though the change does not occur in all cases. - Sabine. Desmarest, though he admits this change, notices the white wolf as a variety belonging to the peculiar description of animals called Albinoes.

THE JACKAL.

Why is the jackal called the lion's provider?

Because, at the jackal's cry, echoed by hundreds of similar voices, through the woods and plains, the lion, whose ear is dull, rouses himself to action, to join in the pursuit of some unhappy wanderer from the herds, which has crossed the jackal's path.

Why is the jackal difficult to domesticate?

Because of the strong odour which he emits, as filthy as that of the fox; and his extreme timidity at the sight of a stranger.

Why is the jackal serviceable in hot countries?

Because, like the vulture and byæna, he does not require living prey to feed upon; but wherever there is an animal body putrefying, his nose scents it at a great distance, and the air is soon freed from the effluvium.

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