Chapter VIII (2)

Mr. Bennett says of some specimens kept in the Zoological Gardens many years ago, that they “were larger than any English Mastiff we have seen. Their colour was a deep black, slightly clouded on the sides; their feet and a spot over each eye alone being of a full tawny or bright brown. They had the broad, short, truncated muzzle of the Mastiff, and lips still more deeply pendulous.” In disposition they are--at any rate in their native country--“tremendously fierce, strong, and noisy; and while savage by nature, or soured by confinement, so impetuously fierce, that it is unsafe, unless the keepers are near, even to approach their dens.”

This Dog was known to the Greeks and Romans, whose writers mention its fierce conflicts with the Aurochs, the Wild Boar, and even the Lion.

THE ENGLISH TERRIER.

This is a small Dog, with a good forehead, prominent eye, pointed muzzle, and usually short hair. The colour varies greatly--white and black-and-tan being perhaps the commonest hues; in the latter case, there is always a tan-coloured spot on the eye, a circumstance which it is interesting to remark, as a similar spot occurs in nearly all black Dogs with tan-coloured feet.

The Terrier is used for unearthing the Fox, but his chief accomplishment is Rat-killing, in which noble sport he is a great adept. “There are some extraordinary accounts of the dexterity, as well as courage, of the Terrier in destroying Rats. The feats of a Dog called ‘Billy’ will be long remembered. He was matched to destroy one hundred large Rats in eight minutes and a half. The Rats were brought into the ring in bags, and as soon as the number was complete, he was put over the railing. In six minutes and thirty-five seconds they were all destroyed. In another match he destroyed the same number in six minutes and thirteen seconds. At length, when he was getting old, and had but two teeth and one eye left, a wager was laid of thirty sovereigns, by the owner of a Berkshire Bitch, that she would kill fifty Rats in less time than Billy. The old Dog killed his fifty in five minutes and six seconds. The pit was then cleared and the Bitch let in. When she killed thirty Rats she was completely exhausted, fell into a fit, and lay barking and yelping, utterly incapable of completing her task.”

THE SCOTCH TERRIER

has a large head, short stout legs, and long, rough, shaggy hair. The colours of the pure breed are black and fawn. This breed is probably of more ancient origin than the English Terrier. It is an extremely intelligent, faithful, and affectionate animal, and, like its relative from south of the Border, a great Rat-catcher. The “_Dandie Dinmont_” breed, so well known from the immortal Pepper and Mustard in “Guy Mannering,” is a variety of the Scotch Terrier; so also is the _Skye Terrier_, which is distinguished by its long hair and short legs. In all these Terriers, as well as in the English breed, a black nose and black roof to the mouth are points of importance.

PARIAH DOGS.

Having considered the chief _bonâ fide_ varieties of the Dog, we come, lastly, to those nondescript animals, the _Pariahs_, or domesticated Dogs run wild, which occur in packs in many parts of Eastern Europe and of Asia. These herds of miserable, half-starved animals are undoubtedly not true wild Dogs, but degenerated tame ones, the Dog being derived from a wild ancestor, under certain circumstances shows his descent by reverting to the habits of his forbears. Instances of this occur occasionally in the case of even the better breeds of Dogs. For instance: “A black Greyhound Bitch, belonging to a gentleman in Scarisbrick, in Lancashire, though she had apparently been well broken-in and always well used, ran away from the habitation of her master, and betook herself to the woods. She killed a great many Hares and made free with the Sheep, and became an intolerable nuisance to the neighbourhood. She was occasionally seen, and the depredations that were committed were brought home to her. Many were the attempts made to entrap or destroy her, but in vain; for more than six months she eluded the vigilance of her pursuers. At length she was observed to creep into a hole in an old barn. She was caught as she came out, and the barn being searched three whelps were found, which, very foolishly, were destroyed. The Bitch evinced the utmost ferocity, and, although well secured, attempted to seize every one who approached her. She was, however, dragged home, and treated with kindness. By degrees her ferocity abated. In the course of two months she became perfectly reconciled to her original abode, and a twelvemonth afterwards (1822), she ran successfully several courses. There was still a degree of wildness in her appearance; but although at perfect liberty, she seemed to be altogether reconciled to a domestic life.”

Captain Williamson says “that many persons affect to treat the idea of degeneration in quadrupeds with ridicule; but all who have been any considerable time resident in India must be satisfied that Dogs of European breed become, after every successive generation, more and more similar to the Pariah, or indigenous Dog of that country. The Hounds are the most rapid in their decline, and, except in the form of their ears, they are very much like many of the village curs. Greyhounds and Pointers also rapidly decline, although with occasional exceptions. Spaniels and Terriers deteriorate less; and Spaniels of eight or nine generations, and without a cross from Europe, are not only as good as, but far more beautiful than, their ancestors. The climate is too severe for Mastiffs, and they do not possess sufficient stamina; but, crossed by the East Indian Greyhound, they are invaluable in hunting the Hog.”

The Pariah Dogs occur in Turkey, Egypt, Syria, China, India, &c., varying a good deal according to their abode. Their habits are well described by Mr. G. R. Jesse, whose account of the Egyptian Pariah will apply equally well to that of Constantinople, or of any other place where sanitary regulations are simply _nil_, and where the Dogs are the only creatures who make any attempt to clear the place of fever-breeding filth.

“The Dogs of the Egyptian towns are masterless, and live on carcases thrown out on the mounds of rubbish outside the walls and what is cast them by the charitable. In the villages, and with the shepherds along the desert, they are better cared for, protecting the property of the people from thieves, and their animals from wild beasts. These Dogs are generally sandy in colour, but they vary--some are black, and others white. At Ermeret, near Thebes, is a breed of black Dogs, quite different from those of Lower Egypt--fierce, excellent watchers, having roughish wiry hair, and drooping but small ears: they are stated to be derived from the Slowara Arabs. Numbers of Dogs congregate on some of the rubbish mounds outside the gates and walls of Cairo, and live on the carcases of Horses, Asses, &c., which are thrown there, the Arabs not having arrived at that pitch of Western economy which terminates the utility of a beast of burden at a cheap restaurant. These masterless Dogs act as scavengers, in which capacity they are accompanied by the large black-and-white yellow-billed Carrion Hawk, Kites, and troops of black-and-grey Carrion Crows. Among the skeletons, and scattered bones, heads, and hoofs, these Dogs--about two feet in height, generally of a yellow colour, or black, or a dirty white, smooth-skinned, and mostly with erect pointed ears--may be seen in crowds, their mouths and necks bloody, snarling, snapping, fighting, tearing, and gorging to repletion. The bitches scratch holes in the rubbish-heaps, and there bring forth their young. After the bones of the dead animals are cleared of flesh by the Dogs, bundles of them are collected and carried off by women and children. The Dogs of the town associate in bands, and each band has its district and its chief. No other Dog is permitted to enter the territory without being at once assailed. If, however, a Dog wishes to pass from one quarter of the town to another, he is said to creep along with his tail down in a humble manner, and immediately the Dogs of that part come upon him to throw himself on his back, and deprecate their attack. After due examination, he is allowed to proceed, but repeats his submissive actions whenever he meets new foes, and so, after enduring repeated challenges, gains his destination. These Dogs are still and quiet during the day (unless, indeed, an European comes in sight, when their vociferousness is loud and long), but at night they are very vigilant, and guard the bazaars against the nocturnal thief.”

In some parts of India the superfluous Pariahs are utilised by giving them as food to caged Tigers. An anecdote is related of one who proved himself a match for the Tiger, and who was, as a reward, admitted to close intimacy with the royal beast.

“I knew an instance,” says Captain Williamson, “of one that was destined for the Tiger’s daily meal standing on the defensive, in a manner that completely astonished both the Tiger and the spectator. He crept into a corner, and whenever the Tiger approached, seized him by the lip or the neck, making him roar most piteously. The Tiger, however, impelled by hunger--for all supply of food was purposely withheld--would renew the attack. The result was ever the same. At length the Tiger began to treat the Dog with more deference, and not only allowed him to partake of the mess of rice and milk furnished daily for his subsistence, but even refrained from any attempt to disturb him. The two animals at length became reconciled to each other, and a strong attachment was formed between them. The Dog was then allowed ingress and egress through the aperture; and, considering the cage as his home, he left it and returned to it just as he thought proper. When the Tiger died he moaned the loss of his companion for a considerable period.”

In Siam, these unhappy creatures are equally abundant, and are even worse off. Mr. Thomson[116] states that they occur in great numbers in nearly all the temples. “It is contrary to the Buddhist creed to take away life; hence many of their temples become places of refuge for troops of famished Dogs, who remain there till they die; for though the priests give them what food they can spare, there is never enough for them all. These Dogs, then, are usually animated skeletons, their skins destitute of hair, and covered with many sores. I tossed them a little food; it gave rise to the most savage fight I ever witnessed. One or two wretched curs limped away from the strife, torn and lacerated, probably to lie down and die. This canine community--fierce, hungry, and diseased--must surely be one of those many Buddhist hells where sorcerers expiate their crimes. The animals are deemed to be animated by the spirits of the departed, and are undergoing a lifetime of torture. The priests, if they are good men, look on at their misery with pious complacency, and probably take the lesson to heart, lest they, too, in the next stage of their existence, should be condemned to howl for offal or garbage to satisfy the hungry pangs and sore-eaten frames of starving Pariah Dogs.”

THE INDIAN WILD DOG.[117]

This animal, which exists in large numbers all over the peninsulas of India and Malacca, differs so much from the ordinary Dogs, that it has been proposed to separate it from them under a different generic name, _Cuon_. Its distinctive characters are, however, by no means sufficiently great to warrant this separation. It occurs, under slightly different varieties, in different parts of India, and receives various native names. By the Mahrattas it is called _Kolsun_ (_Canis dukhunensis_ of Colonel Sykes); _Sona kúta_, or Golden Dog, in Central India; _Buansú_ in the Himalayas; _Dhole_ in Ceylon, and so on.

A capital notion of the appearance of this interesting Dog may be obtained from a case of stuffed specimens now in the India Museum at South Kensington. The Zoological Society has at different times been able to exhibit in their Gardens more or less fine examples of the Indian Wild Dog. Dr. Murie gives the following account of a male and female specimen sent to the Gardens some time ago:--

“Their _tout ensemble_ conveyed to me the idea of a compound between Wolf, Jackal, and Fox, partly on account of their colour, partly from their size and general shape, and also partially from the contour of the head, ear-outline, and direction of the eyes. But, on the other hand, a critical inspection left the impression that they were more markedly of the Dog type. This pair of animals very nearly corresponded in size,” the most important dimensions being--length, from snout to tip of tail, forty-two inches; length of the tail, twelve inches; height at shoulder, about fifteen inches, and at the loins about sixteen inches.

“Their colour was entirely reddish or fulvous brown, and remarkably like the tint of a Fox. The tip of the nose and lower part of the face was somewhat darker; the tail also exhibited deepening of hue. Moreover, upon the outer side of the hind-leg, and similarly on the fore-limb, there was a tendency, though a very indistinct one, to whitish spotting.... Of those features marking race, the tail was moderately lengthened, dark, and full below, as in the Jackal or Wolf, and not with the great round brush of the Fox. The eye had a certain obliquity; but the pupil, as far as I could ascertain, was round. Ears large, erect, and hairy.”

“I am not cognisant of any observations as to their habits having been noted prior to their receipt by the Society. But I may mention that when in the Gardens they were exceedingly active, snapping, snarling, and in their general behaviour resembling a couple of Wolves rather than sedate Dogs. I am not aware that they were heard to bark; but occasionally they howled and whined.”

The Wild Dog has thus, in many respects, an appearance resembling that of a Fox or a Jackal, with which it also agrees in its filthy smell. It is, however, a true Dog, although less specialised than the domestic kinds, and therefore approaching the average structure of the wild _Canidæ_.

These Dogs hunt in packs, six, eight, ten, or as many as thirty, animals in a pack. They hunt either by night or day; and it is said that “when once a pack of them put up any animal, no matter whether Deer or Tiger, that animal’s doom is sealed; they never leave it. They will dog their prey for days, if need be, and run it down exhausted, and if it turns to fight, they go in fearlessly, and by their numbers win. All animals dread the Wild Dog; others they may elude by speed, artifice, or battle: but their instinct tells them that there is no escaping the Wild Dog, as it hunts in packs by scent as well as by sight, and is as brave as it is persevering.”

They make no noise when running, except sometimes a low whispering kind of note, which may either express their own gratification, or act as a signal to other Dogs. Great numbers of them are destroyed in their hunting expeditions, as the larger animals, such as the Elk and Boar, defend themselves with great fierceness, and sacrifice many of their pursuers before they fall a victim to the overwhelming numbers and unconquerable perseverance of the latter.

In some parts of India they are half-domesticated, and used in the noble sport of “Pig-sticking.” “They are remarkably savage, and frequently will approach none but their _doonahs_, or keepers, not allowing their own masters to come near them. Some of them are very fleet, but they are not to be depended upon in coursing; for they are apt suddenly to give up the chase when it is a severe one, and, indeed, they will too often prefer a Sheep or a Goat to a Hare. In Hog-hunting they are more valuable. It seems to suit their temper, and they appear to enjoy the snapping and the snarling incident to that species of sport.”[118]

THE DINGO, OR AUSTRALIAN WILD DOG.[119]

This is another distinct breed of Wild Dog, quite as remarkable in its way as the Indian Wild Dog, and possessing far greater interest than the latter, from the fact that it is the only Mammal not belonging to the group of Marsupials, or pouched animals (Kangaroos, Wombats, &c.), found in the great island of Australia. In all probability, it is not a true native even there, but was most likely introduced before the discovery of the island by Europeans.

The Dingo “approaches in appearance to the largest kind of Shepherd’s Dog (see figure on page 147). The head is elongated, the forehead flat, and the ears short and erect, or with a slight direction forwards. The body is thickly covered with hair of two kinds--the one woolly and grey, the other silky and of a deep yellow or fawn colour. The limbs are muscular, and, were it not for the suspicious yet ferocious glare of the eye, he might pass for a handsome Dog. When he is running, the head is lifted more than usual in Dogs, and the tail is carried horizontally. He seldom barks.”[120]

There are some Dingoes in the Zoological Gardens, and one would never guess their savageness of disposition from their innocent faces. They are decidedly good-looking Dogs in appearance, but as regards temper they are anything but pleasant animals, although quite tamable if taken young: they are, indeed, often domesticated by the natives, but are never known to attain to those higher qualities which make the thoroughly civilised Dog so valuable.

“When Van Diemen’s Land began to be colonised by Europeans, the losses sustained by the settlers by the ravages of the Wild Dogs were almost incredible. The districts infested by these animals were principally those appropriated to Sheep, and there was scarcely a flock that did not suffer. It was in vain to double the number of shepherds, to watch by night and day, or to have fires at every quarter of the field; for these animals would accomplish their object by stratagem or force. One colony lost no fewer than 1,200 Sheep and Lambs in three months; another colony lost 700.

“The ravagers were either the native Wild Dogs of the island or those that had escaped from their owners. They seemed to have apportioned the country into different districts, each troop having its allotted range. At length the evil became so great, that a general meeting of the colonists was convened. The concluding sentences of the speech of Lieutenant Hill forcibly express the extent of the evil:--‘The country is free from bushrangers: we are no longer surrounded and threatened by the natives. We have only one enemy left in the field; but that enemy strikes at the root of our welfare, and through him the stream of our prosperity is tainted at its very source.’ The colonists were then few, but they cordially united in the endeavour to extirpate this formidable enemy; and, although the Wild Dog is still found in the interior of the island, he is comparatively seldom seen, and his ravages have nearly ceased.”[121]