THE ORIGIN OF THE DOC.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 47, 21 November 1891, Page 601

THE ORIGIN OF THE DOC.

Although the recent discussion of the origin of the dog cannot be said to have settled the long controverted question, there seems to be a decided drift of opinion among naturalists to the theory that our numerous varieties of domesticated dogs are descended not from a single species, but from several kinds of wild animals, as, for instance, the wolf and the jackal. It is a significant fact that their period of gestation (sixty-three days) is the same as that of the dog. Moreover, the hybrid offspring of a dog and a wolf, or of a dog and a jackal, is not sterile. There are iecorded examples of tamed wolves, which in gentleness, love for their masters and intelligence showed a truly dog-like capacity. With regard to tamed jackals, 1 tarwin has pointed out that, when caressed, they jump about for joy, wag their tails, lower their ears, lick their master’s hands, crouch down, ami even throw themselves on the ground, belly upward. When frightened, they carry their tails between their legs. On the other hand, it is undisputed that, whatever

animal we may consider his progenitor, the domestication of the dog began at an epoch exceedingly remote. The fossil remains of a large dog have been found in tertiary deposits, and there is no doubt that the dog existed in a domesticated state during prehistoric times. His bones are discovered in the shell-heaps of Denmark and in the lake dwellings of Switzerland. The dog meets us in the dawn of history, for such varieties as the hound, greyhound and watch-dog are depicted on Egyptian monuments live thousand years old. It is well known that in Egypt the dog was worshipped under the title of Anubis, and dogmummies have been found. There is a mastiff figured on an Assyrian sculpture belonging to 640, lI.C. The fact is often overlooked that dogs were used by the Greeks and Romans not only in the chase and for hunting down escaped prisoners, but for war, being armed for that purpose not only with spiked collars, but with a coat of mail. It is said that Corinth was on one occasion saved by fifty war-dogs, which foiled a night attack of the enemy, lighting until all were killed but one, which succeeded in arousing the garrison. It is worth noting that, according to some naturalists, the Newfoundland and St. Bernard dogs form a group by themselves, derived neither from wolves nor jackals, but from a distinct species of progenitors. It is a disputed question whether the Newfoundland dog is indigenous to North America, or was introduced either by the Norwegians in the year 1000 or by Cabot in 1497. Bearing on this question is the interesting fact that the Norwegians have dogs closely resembling the Newfoundland breed. The Dingo dog, of Australia, does certainly seem to constitute a distinct, indigenous species, since it is now found in both a wild and domesticated state in that country, and its fossil remains are associated with those of extinct mammals.