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Show 42 DR. J. E. GRAY ON THE [Jan. 10, Skull fully developed ; the ossification is imperfect, having a rather large irregular aperture or fontanel on the crown of the head between the parietal bones (fig. 3, p. 41). The occipital foramen is very large ; it is much produced upwards behind towards the crown; the upper part is narrow, occupying the greater part of the height of the narrow supraoccipital bone, and on each side is a large half-oval aperture (fig. 4, p. 41). The lateral wings of the atlas vertebra are very large and broad, and much expanded behind. The skull of an Italian Greyhound and of a Beagle in the British Museum have the foramen magnum large, and extending upwards in the supraoccipital bone towards the crown; but the extension is much broader and shorter than in the Chinese Pug Spaniel, where it is narrower, and extends nearly to the upper edge of the supraoccipital bone. These skulls also have an imperfection in the ossification, or a perforation, on the outer sides of the occipital bones and the squamous bone, but these are not quite so large as they are in the Chinese skull; and in one of the skulls the right aperture is smaller than the other. Miss Saunders of Reigate has a specimen of this Dog alive. It is a small long-haired Spaniel, with slender legs, and rather bushy tail curled up over its back. It differs from the Pug-nosed Spaniel called King Charles's Spaniel in the hair being much longer and more bushy, the tail closely curled up, and the legs being smaller and much more slender. The nose of the Chinese or Japanese Pug is said by some to be artificially produced by force suddenly or continuously applied : but that is certainly not the case in the skull that is in the British Museum ; for the bones of the upper jaw and the nose are quite regular and similar on the two sides, showing no forced distortion of any kind, such as is to be observed in the skulls of some Bulldogs; for I believe that some " fanciers " are not satisfied with the peculiarity, and do sometimes try to increase the deformity by force. Miss Saunders has sent m e the following particulars of her dog:- " H e is called a Japanese Pug Dog : they say he was the origin of the King Charles's breed; but I do not know if this be correct. He is of a very jealous disposition, and timid, being afraid of the noise of a train, the popping of a coal from the fire, and any other sudden noise. He pretends to be very brave in attacking strangers or the gardeners; but the moment they turn upon him he is off like a shot, till he is at a safe distance, when he barks loudly. "When first he arrived from Japan (the spring of 1864) he would not tread on grass ; but he is now quite accustomed to our lawn and will run about like other dogs. He prefers cold weather and is always better in health, though, excepting once, he has never been ill since his arrival in England. He does not like strong light, his eyes looking watery and not quite open if he be iu sunlight • but of an evening his eyes look very large and bright ; and if in' a good temper he will roll himself in the curtains or under our dresses growling and barking with pleasure. Damp weather does not agree |
