The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1841-01-14

upright ears, and a long, bushy tail some have
smooth, and some have curly hair; their color Is
various-black, brown, reddish.brown, white,
and spotted. They vary also in size; but it is
considered, that good sledge-dog shouldn't be
less than seven-and-a-half inches in height, and
three feet three quarters of an inch in length
English square,"
Their barking is like the hewing of awoIf-
They pass their whole life in the open air; in
summer they dig holes in the ground for cool
ness, or lie in the water to avoid the musaui-
toes; IN winter they protect themselves nv bur
rowing in the snow, and lie curledu up, with their
noses covered by their busLy tails. The fe-
male puppies are drowned, except enough TO /.
preserve the breed, the males alsne being used
in dfaught. Those born in winter enter on
their training the following autumn. but are
not used in long journeys until the third YEAR
The feeding and training isa particular art, and
much skill is required in driving and guiding
them. The best trained dogs are used as lead
ers and as the quick and steady going of the
team, usually oftwelve dogs, and the Safety of
the Traveller, depend on the sagacity and docil-
ity Of the leader, no pains spared in their ed
ucation, so that they may always obey their
masters voice, and not be TEMPTED from their
course when they come on the scent of game
This last is point of great difficulty; sometimes
the whole team, in such cases, will start off
and no endeavors on the part Of the driver can
stop them. On such occasions, we have some
times had to admire the cleverness with which
| the well-trained leader enleavors to turn t!ie
| other dogs from their pursuit; if other dc.
/ fail, he will suddenly vince round, and by bark
| ing, as If he had coupe to new scent, try to
induce the other dogs to follow him. In travel
/ ling across the wide tundra, in dark nights, or
when the vast plain is yelled in impenetrable
| mist, or in storms or snOw-tempests. when the
traveller is IN danger of missing the sheltering
p0soO77ad, and of perishing in the snow, he will
| frequently, owe his safety to a good leader; if
| the animal has ever been In this plain, and
| has stopped with his master at the powarna, he
will be sure to bring the sledge to the place
where the hut lies deeply buried in the snow;
when arrive at it, he will suddenly stop, and
indicate, significantly, the spot where his mas
ter may dig.
Nor are the dogs without their use in sum
mer; they tow the boats up the rivers and it is
curious to observe how instantly thew obey their
masters voice, either IN hating, or in changing
the bank of the river On hearing his call, they
plunge iato the water, draw the towing-line
after them, and swim after the boat to the oppo-
site shore; and, on reaching it, replace them
selves in order, and wait the command to go on.
Sometimes, even those who have no horses win
use the dogs in fowling excursions, TO draw
their light boats from one lake river to ano
Their. In short, the dog is fully as useful and in
dispensable domestic animal to the settled in
habitants of this country, the tame rein-dee
is to the nsmade tribes. They regard 1t as such
We saw a remarkable instance of this during
the terrible sickness, which, in the year 1921
carried off the greater part of those useful ami
mails. An unfortunate Juhakir family had onl,
two dogs left out of twenty, and these We're jus
+. bern, and, indeed, still blind. The mother be
> ing dead, the wife of the Juhakir determined o
# nursing the two puppies with her own child, T.
tier than LOSE the last remains of their fornle
: wealth. She did so, and was rewarded for i
5 for her two musings lived, and became the pa
rents of new and vigorous race of dogs"
Notwithstanding the length to which thes
notices and extracts have run, we find that W
have yet given but very imperfect idea of tn
uncommon and abundant interest of the con
tents of this volume, which reflects homer on tn
Russian service. We can but point it out, how
ever, to those who would know more of the sub
ject, and feel assured, that the indication will b
held as favor by those who avail themselve
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