THE KENNEL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 64, 16 March 1900, Page 3

THE KENNEL.

— — .<*<—. - (By Canis.)

Mr HaiToweH'a (Manurewa) import- | ed wire-haired fox terrier pup Nigger Bobs arrived by the Mararoa. The pup is bred by Captain Pearse, one oli the proprietors of the "Australasian Pastoralists' Review " Cupt. Pearse was also on board, en route to Argentine Republic, where the "Review" has a large circulation. The following interesting account of "American Indian Dogs' is from the "Live Stock Journal" of October 31. 1879:—----"The old theory that our domestic dogs are descendants of the wolf, and that their original characteristics were changed by contact with man would seem to foe applicable to those owned by the American Indians, for they display many wolfish traits, and resemble the coyote so closely in several points that it would in many cases be hard to distinguish between them in aught save colour and the length and covering of the tail; but in few instances even these differences are very slight. I have seen several of them, which were said by their owners to be a cross between prairie wolves and their domestic dogs, and these were always characterised by strong wolfish propensities. Some of them'had no visible tail, that useful appendage being supplanted by a cluster of long hairs, and was not unlike the 'scot' of a hare, but was not so long or bushy. Nearly all were small in size, and of mixed colours, biit white, ochre, and black seem to prevail most. They were shy and cautious with strangers, and frequently bit snappishly at any person's assumption of familiarity with them, yet they were exceedingly playful with the human members of the wigwams to which they belonged. They were arrant thieves, however, and I doubt if all the training- in the world could impress upon them the moral principle of "Thou shalt not steal." Their bark is closely allied to that of the prairie wolf, and at night their wild howls recall the melancholy cry of that animal in a most forcible manner. Every Indian encampment swarms with these curs, and it would be almost safe to say that each family owns a dozen of them. I could not at one time see the use of the mongrels, until 1 accompanied a party of Indians I one day in a general hunt; I then recognised their true value. They make, in the first place, excellent bear, congar, or wolf dogs, for while they never j close with the animals, yet they snap lat them whenever opportunity occurs, | and harass them so much tnat they are kept at bay until the hunters arrive, when they are soon dispatched. They are keener on a wolf trail than on any other, as jf they enjoyed hunt- | ing- their own kindred above all creatures. This mutual feeling of hostility is natural, for a hungry wolf does not hesitate to gobble one up when it gets the opportunity. The dogs do not show much sagacity in hunting deer, and 1 never heard them give tongue except when the quarry was in view, or the scent was very hot indeed. They displayed one very excellent quality in a long chase, and that was the ability to do without food and water, and they seemed to be as untiring as foxhounds, or rather, coyotes. They appeared to have a feeling that their 'affection was of little consequence unless they accomplished something; hence, when the day's work was over, if nothing- of importance was killed, they lounged about in out-of-the-way spots, and made nc attempt to receive caress. Those thai became lost displayed a wonderful instinct in getting back to camp, or ir following the trail of men through unknown forests. They knew nothing about hunting birds; but if properh trained I am inclined to think some o! ' them would display excellent qualities in the chase." The annual meeting of the Aueklam Collie Club is due to take place soms time during the present month, but as i yet T have not heard of tho day being fixed. No doubt the worthy secre tary. Mr Parry, will soon enlighten v.--on the subject. Mr T. IT. Bosworth reports a piect of very ill luck, the whole of his litter of collie pups, mentioned in irn last notes, having1 died. They were about six days old. when they wer< taken bad, and all died within th( space of a few hours. As they were a particularly strong lot, and all show pd the same symptoms, something- eyi dently went, wron? with the dam's milk. Mr P>o.sworth is advertising ai pxcpptionally well-bred puppy for salt in another column.