Their hind legs are unusually straight,
without any bend at the hock or ham, to such a degree as to give
them an awkward gait when they trot. When they are in motion
their tails are curved high over their backs like those of some
hounds, and have a bare place each on the outside from the tip
midway, that does not seem to be matter of accident, but somewhat
singular. Their eyes are jet black, small, and piercing; the insides
of their lips and mouths of the same colour, and their tongues blue.
The bitch has a dew-claw on each hind leg; the dog has none.
When taken out into a field the bitch showed some disposition for
hunting, and dwelt on the scent of a covey of partridges till she
sprung them, giving her tongue all the time. The dogs in South
America are dumb; but these bark much in a short thick manner,
like foxes; and have a surly, savage demeanour like their ancestors,
which are not domesticated, but bred up in sties, where they are fed
for the table with rice-meal and other farinaceous food. These
dogs, having been taken on board as soon as weaned, could not
learn much from their dam; yet they did not relish flesh when they
came to England.
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