ead of man implanted in them, the poor dog alone looked at
his master with affection, and the tie once formed was never broken to
the present hour.

It should also be mentioned, in continuation of my argument, that the
experiment of the wolf breeding with the dog is of no value, because
it has never been carried sufficiently far to prove that the progeny
would continue fertile _inter se_. The wolf has oblique eyes--the eyes
of dogs have never retrograded to that position. If the dog descended
from the wolf, a constant tendency would have been observed in the
former to revert to the original type or species. This is a law in all
other cross-breeds--but amongst all the varieties of dogs, this
tendency has not existed. I may also add, that as far as I have been
able to ascertain the fact, the number of teats of the female wolf
have never been known to vary. With respect to the dog, it is known
that they do vary, some having more, and others a less number.

Having thus brought forward such arguments as have occurred to me to
prove that the dog is a breed _sui generis_, I will give a few
anecdotes to show how different this animal is in his specific
character to the wolf, and that he has a natural tendency to
acknowledge man as his friend and protector, an instinct never shown
by the wolf.

In Ceylon there are a great number of what are called wild dogs, that
is, dogs who have no master, and who haunt villages and jungles,
picking up what food they are able to find. If you meet one of these
neglected animals, and only look at him with an expression of
kindness, from that moment he attaches himself to you, owns you for
his master, and will remain faithful to you for the remainder of his
life.

"Man," says Burns, "is the God of the dog; he knows no other; and see
how he worships him! With what reverence he crouches at his feet, with
what reverence he looks up to him, with what delight he fawns upon
him, and with what cheerful alacrity he obeys him!"

Such is the animal which the brutality of man subjects to so much
ill-treatment; its character depends very much on that of his master,
kindness and confidence produce the same qualities in the dog, while
ill-usage makes him sullen and distrustful of beings far more brutal
than himself.

I have had many opportunities of observing how readily dogs comprehend
language, and how they are aware when they are the subject of
conversation. A gentleman once said in the hearing of a