Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

174 PATAGONIAN DOGS. parties : but, indeed, every white man who has passed any time among the Patagonian Indians agrees in giving a favourable account of the treatment experienced. The ' Basket-maker,'' however, would fare better than the ' Scholar,' I fancy, with these, as well as with most other tribes of savages, until ideas could be communicated clearly.* The dogs now found in the southern part of Patagonia have a wolfish appearance — their size, colour, hair, ears, nose, tail, and form being in general much like those of a wolf; though some black or spotted dogs are also seen. The roof of the mouth is black : the ears are always erect, and the nose sharp-pointed. I should say that their usual height is about that of a large fox- hound. Generally the coat is harsh or wiry, and rather short but there are some dogs among them which have thick woolly coats, like those of Newfoundland or large shepherd's dogs, which some resemble ; others being more like lurchers ; but all have a wild wolf-like look, not at all prepossessing. I had a fine dog of this kind, rather like a Newfoundland, except in physiognomy, but his habits were so savage that he came to an untimely end. These dogs hunt by sight, without giving tongue ; but they growl or bark loudly at the approach of strangers. As to attachment to their masters, the dogs we had could hardly give fair testimony, having been taken (bought) from them ; but to strangers they were always snappish. * With reference to what has been ah-eady mentioned about their migratory inclinations, I will here annex an omitted date: — Maria and her companions were at Gregory Bay in November 1831 : at the River Negro in September 1832 : and again at Gregory Bay, in the Strait of Magalhaens, in March 1833.