Anecdotes illustrating not only the instincts, but the intelligence and affection of dogs, are familiar to every one, and form one of the most pleasing parts of many a book of natural history. Attractive to children, they are worthy of all the consideration which they can receive from the most philosophic mind. Volumes have been filled, and more volumes might easily be filled, with anecdotes well authenticated, and well worthy of preservation.
The dog produces usually from six to ten young ones at a birth. They are born Nina, open their eyes about the tenth or twelfth day, attain their full growth in about two years, seldom live more than twelve or fifteen years, and almost never more than twenty.
No satisfactory classification of the different kinds of dog has ever been made. What some naturalists regard as types of species, others pronounce to be mere mongrel races. Nor can any principle of arrangement be found in form, roughness or smooth ness of fur, or other such character, which will not associate kinds that are in other respects widely dissimilar, and separate some that are nearly allied.
Col. Hamilton Smith arranges domestic dogs in six groups or sections: 1. "The wolf dogs," including the Siberian dog, Esquimaux dog, Iceland dog, Newfoundland dog, Nootka dog, sheep dog, great wolf dog, great St. Bernard dog, Pomeranian dog, etc. 2. " The watch and cattle dogs," including the German boar-hound, Danish dog, matin, dog of the North American Indians, etc. 3. "The greyhounds," including the Brinjaree dog, different kinds of greyhound, Irish hound, lurcher, Egyptian street dog, etc. 4. " The hounds," including the bloodhound, old southern hound, staghound, fox hound, harrier, beagle, pointer, setter, spaniel, springer, cocker, Blenheim dog, water dog or poodle, etc. 5. " The cur dogs," including the terrier and its allies. 6. " The mastiffs," including different kinds of mastiff, the bull dog, pug dog, etc. Col. H. Smith does not include in any of these groups the dholes, dingo, etc., which he even separates from the genus cants.—Mr. Richardson arranges dogs in three great groups, "indicated by the least variable part of their osteological structure, cranial develop ment." 1. Including the Irish wolf dog, highland deerhound, all kinds of greyhounds, and the tiger hound, characterized by convergent parietal bones, an elongated muzzle, and high and slender form. 2. Including the great Dane, the French matin, the pariah of India, the bloodhound, staghound, foxhound, harrier, beagle, pointers, terriers, turn spit, Newfoundland dog, Labrador dog, Pomeranian dog, Esquimaux dog, Siberian dog, Iceland dog, shepherd's dog, etc., characterized by parallel parietal bones, and generally by much acuteness of smell. 3. Including mastiffs, the great St. Bernard dog, bull dog, pug dog, etc., characterized by sensibly divergent parietal bones, bulk of body, robust structure, and combative propensities.
DOG (in law). The keeping of vicious or destructive dogs, or other animals, except under proper precautions, is illegal; and the proprietor is liable for the damage which they occasion in all cases in which it cannot be clearly shown that the fault lay with the party injured. Even before the injury occurs, it is competent to enforce measures of precaution. If a man have a dog which he knows to be of a savage nature, and addicted to bite, and he allow it to go in a frequented place without being muzzled or otherwise guarded so as to prevent it from committing injury, lie may be indicted in England as for a common nuisance. If the dog be of a ferocious kind, as a mastiff, it has been held that he must be muzzled (1 Russ. 303); and it will be no defense in an action of damages against the master, that the person injured trod on the dog's toes, for he would not have trodden on them if they had not been there (3 Car, and P. 138). The
'harboring of a dog about one's premises, or allowing him to resort there, will warrant indictment (V.I'llone and Wood, 5 C. and P. 2). If a dog known to his proprietor to have previously bitten a sheep, be retained by him, the proprietor will be liable to all subsequent injuries even to other animals, as, e,g., a horse. (Burn's Justice of the Peace, vol. ii. p. 333). In Scotland, a warrant may be obtained, on proof of vicious practices and danger to the public, either from the sheriff or the justices, on a summary corn plaint, to have a dog secured or slain, and the owner found liable in expenses. The complaint may be at the instance either of the fiscal or of a private party, with or with out the fiscal's concurrence. An interdict may be granted against the D. going loose pending the discussion of the question as to whether or not he ought to be killed. Many local police acts contain, provisions as to ,shutting up or muzzling dogs during the prevalence of weather likely to produce hydrophobia; and where such do not exist, the subject may be dealt with by the magistrate at common law. Formerly, the com mon law of England held that it was not larceny to steal any of the baser animals, in which class all dogs, except those of value, were included. But by 7 and 8 Geo. IV. c. 29, dog-stealing was declared to be an offense punishable by fine. ,This act was repealed, and new re!mlations of a more stringent kind made by 8 and 9 Vict. c. 47. By that enactment dog-stealing is a misdemeanor, punishable, on summary conviction, for the first offense, by six months' imprisonment and hard labor, or, fine not exceeding £20 beyond the value of the dog. The second offense is an indictable one, punishable by fine or imprisonment and hard labor not exceeding eighteen months, or both. Similar punishment is provided for persons found in possession of dogs or dogs-skins, knowing them to have been stolen. A D. going into a neighbor's field does not afford ground for an action of trespass unless he does mischief; and even then the person who kills him in certain circumstances, may be liable in damages (2 Marsh. 584). The use of dogs for purposes of draught was prohibited under a penalty by 2 and 3 Viet. c. 47, which is explained by 17 and 18 Viet. c. 60, s. 2. See ANIMALS, CRUELTY TO.
Tax OM duty charged on every D. above the age of six months is 58., and shepherds' dogs are not exempt. Until recently, the duty on every D. was 12s. The maximum charge for any number of hounds was £39 12s.; of greyhounds, £9. Any D. kept wholly for the care of sheep or cattle, if not a greyhound, hound, pointer, setting-dog, spaniel, lurcher, or terrier, was exempt.
Apocynum, a genus of plants of the natural order apocynacece, having flowers, no style, and the fruit a long linear follicle. Some of the species are shrubby, some herbaceous; some extend into colder climates than is usual for plants of this order. The D. of North America (4. androece-inifolium);.a piffennial herbaceous in..' plant, about 4 ft. high, with smooth stem, much milky juice, smooth ovate leaves, and whitish rose-colored flowers, growing in open barren places from Georgia to Canada, is valued for the medicinal properties of the bark of its root, which is emetic, diaphoretic, and in small doses tonic. The root of CANADIAN HEMP (A. cannabinum), a plant noticed on another account in the article Apoeynaceee, possesses similar properties, and is fre quently used iu the United States.