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Show 1890.] JACKALS, DOGS, AND FOXES. 47 I may, however, from the opportunities I have had of observing so many living examples of the above-named animals, be able to offer a few remarks on the subject. In the first place, I find that Wolves differ greatly amongst themselves in size, colour, and markings. Wolves from the Arctic regions are larger, lighter in colour, and have much longer and thicker coats than those which inhabit milder climates. Some of these varieties from different parts of the world have been considered as distinct species, without, in m y opinion, sufficient characters to mark their distinctness. With reference to the Jackals, they are more easily distinguished, and several well-marked species are readily known and recognized. The extraordinary and wonderful number of well-marked breeds of the domestic dog and their variations of size, form, and colour, render any attempt to account for their origin a task of some difficulty ; but as many wild dogs appear to be descendants of domestic dogs, it is necessary to endeavour to account for the origin of the domestic race. There can be no doubt, for example, that the Esquimaux dogs are reclaimed or domesticated wolves. All wolves, if taken young and reared by man, are tame, playful, and exhibit a fondness for those who feed and attend to them. The same may be said of all the species of jackals. This being so, it is highly probable that both wolves and jackals were for many ages found in the company of man, and that owing to this association the different species of these animals may have bred together and become mixed. A mixed breed would at once develop a new variety. A variety once commenced would in all probability, in a few generations, undergo many changes, especially if any well-marked variety should occur. Nothing would be more natural than to suppose that the owners of this variety would endeavour to increase its number, especially if it was found to possess useful qualities. The fashion of hunting led in all probability to the separation of domestic dogs into two well-known breeds, viz. those that hunt by sight, as distinguished from those that hunt by scent; for there can be no doubt that at a very early period dogs were used in the chase of wild animals. There are plenty of ancient monuments on which there is unmistakable evidence of this fact. The usefulness of dogs being established at a very early period would naturally lead to great care being bestowed upon them, and doubtless to the breeding of them in a domestic state. This would lead to the production ofthe many breeds and varieties that have been developed, and thus varieties may have been perpetuated by the mixing and crossing of breeds originally obtained from distinct wild animals. I have found no difficulty in crossing wolves and jackals with domestic dogs, when suitably matched. It is a well-known fact that the Esquimaux frequently allows his dogs to breed with wolves, in order to keep up the strength, the power of endurance, and the courage of the race. But as regards foxes, so far as m y experience goes, I have never met with a well-authenticated instance of a hybrid |