Fa raed ae ee ke ote a ee

  
   
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
  
   
  
 
  
  
 
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
     

rr - N :
CANIS DI N G¢ ), Blumenb.
The Dingo.

Canis ae Senay vol. i. pl. 76.—Gray, List of Spee. of Mamm. in Coll. Brit. Mus., p. 57.
3 — familiaris, an. Australasie, Desm.—Benn. Gard. and Menag. of Zool. Soe. del., vol. i. p. 51, with fig
Chrysaus Austrahe, Lieut.-Col. Hamilton Smith in Jard. Nat. Lib. Dogs, vol. 1. p. 188. pl. 10 ; d

 

«“Wuerner the numberless breeds of “s, which ar : . . : >

a reeds of dogs, which are the companions of the human race in every region of
the globe, were originally descended from one common stock, and owe their infinite varieties solely to their
complete domestication, the modifications by which they are distinguished having been gradually produced
by the influence of circumstances, : . 3

 

whether, on the contrary, they are derived from the intermixture of dif-
ferent species, now so completely blended together as to render it impossible to trace out the line of their

descent,

 

and whether on either supposition the primeeval race or races still exist in a state of nature, are
questions which have baffled the ingenuity of the most celebrated naturalists. Theory after theory has been
advanced, and the problem is still as eagerly debated as ever, and with as little probability of arriving at a
satisfactory conclusion. In the investigation of this difficult subject, however, as in flies search anen the
philosopher’s stone, many curious facts have been brought to light which would otherwise in all probability
have remained buried in obscurity; and the causes which are continually operating to produce a gradual
change of character, both in outward form and in intellectual capacity, among the brute creation, have
received considerable elucidation. It is thus that theories, however erroneous in themselves, are frequently
made subservient to the advancement of science, by the important facts which are incidentally developed by
their authors in the ardour of their zeal for the establishment of a favourite hypothesis.”

Such are the words of the late Edward Turner Bennett at the commencement of his paper on the history
of the Dingo in “The Gardens and Menagerie of the Zoological Society delineated.” Agreeing with Mr.
Bennett in the impossibility of arriving at a satisfactory conclusion on the subject, I feel that I cannot close the
present work without giving a figure and description of an animal which forms so prominent a feature i the
fauna of Australia. It may be expected also that I should myself have formed some opinion as to its claim to be
regarded as indigenous or otherwise ; and if this opinion should be at variance with those of some Australian
zoologists who have lately written on the subject, I may state that it has not been formed without due con-
sideration. Without going into the probable origin of this particular race of dogs, or offering reasons why
it should not be considered as indigenous, I may briefly state that I believe it has followed the black man in
his wanderings from Northern Asia through the Indian Islands to Australia, the southern portion of which

irs to be its boundary in this direction; for I believe it has never been found in Van Diemen’s

country appe
From what I saw of

Land in the wild or semi-wild state in which it occurs on the Australian continent.

the animal in a state of nature, I could not but regard it in the light of a variety to which the course of

ages had given a wildness of air and disposition; indeed it appeared to have all the habits of a skulking
d air and ferocity of disposition of the wolf or jackal: in
facility with which the natives bring it under subjection,

normal colouring is red or reddish sand-

low-bred dog, and none of the determine
confirmation of this opinion, I may cite the
and the parti-colouring of its hairy coat; for although the
colour; black, or black and white, ‘ndividuals are not unfrequently seen; and that this variation in

the colouring is not due to crossing with the domesticated races introduced when the country was first

ige in the Appendix to “ Collins’s Voyage,’
“the dogs of this country are of

discovered, is proved by the following passé >a work published
soon after the colonization of New South Wales, where he says,
never bark, are of two colours, the one red,
The existence of parti-coloured Dingos
him in Western Australia : «The Dingo is very

at number of varieties, varying from reddish

the jackal species ; they with some vaante abent it, the other
black : some of them were very handsome.” is still further confirmed
by Mr. Gilbert’s note on the animal, as observed by
common over all parts of this colony. There are a very gre :
brown to black, white, light brown, and black and w * Now, on the other hand, it may be affirmed
that late geological eco cules will set aside the idea of its being a Mer variety and tend to ea acre
Australia even prior to the aborigines ; for it is said that @ skeleton of a Dingo has been
imborl, beneath a bed of volcanic ash; but I believe no fossil remains have yet nenebed
i@ letter on the subject has been kindly transmitted to me by Mr. Gerard Krefft,

a beautiful drawing of the head,

hite.

dog existed in
discovered at Warnz
this country. ‘The follow
a gentleman to whom I am indebted for
| or immediately after it was killed :—

the Australian Native Dog, I beg to state
is an original inhabitant o
| skull, found with other animal remains in a cave at

and an entire figure of the animal

sketched either from life

“In reply to your inquiry about
doubt, as far as my own judgment goes, that the Dingo
at the Museum in Melbourne, a fossi

that it is proved without a
f the Australian continent.

“There is now