The Eskimo Dog is found throughout a great part of the Arctic regions--the herds found in Siberia, Kamtschatka, and Arctic America being all closely allied to one another, and all resembling, to a wonderful degree, the great Arctic Wolf, from which there can be little doubt they are descended. In form they resemble the Shepherd’s Dog, and attain to the size of the Newfoundland. The muzzle and ears are pointed, the hair long, and with a short yellowish-grey fur between the hairs. The eyes are often oblique, and the howl peculiarly wolfish. The colour varies a good deal: some of the Dogs being black, with a white breast; others white; others reddish, yellowish, or spotted. This variety in colour is very characteristic of domesticated races of animals. There is never the same amount of difference found between the individuals of a wild species. Not only does the Eskimo Dog agree with the Wolf in appearance, but also in disposition: it is wild, savage, and obstinate to a degree almost inconceivable to us, who are only acquainted with civilised Dogs. In illustration of the wolf-like disposition of the beast, Dr. Robert Brown relates an incident which shows that it is but little removed from its probable ancestor. We said above that it was only half-tamed; so certainly is this the case, that it “can only be kept in subjection by the most unmerciful lashing, for its savage nature will out. When at Clyde River, in 1861, I heard of a most horrible tragedy which had been enacted there a few years before. A man, a boy, and a little girl landed there from an _omiak_ (or open skin-boat), on an island where, as is usual, some Dogs were confined. Before the poor people could escape to their boat, the animals, infuriated by hunger, sprang upon them. The man and the boy, though much lacerated, managed to regain the _omiak_, but the poor girl was torn to pieces.” Wolves could hardly be much worse than this. These Dogs were, however, confined and half-starved; but another writer[111] relates how he very nearly fell a victim to a pack of Dogs in actual use, at the door of his own hut.