THE NATIVE DOG OF WESTERN POLYNESIA.

THE NATIVE DOG OF WESTERN POLYNESIA.

BY B. G. MAHONY.

FOLLOWING on the article in the number of the Journal dated September, 1914, entitled the “Ancient Maori Dog,” by Mr. W. H. Skinner, a description of the native dog of Tonga will be of interest.

Though of late years, numerous other introduced dogs have crossed with the Kuli fakatoga, especially in the main groups of Tonga, yet the native breed predominates in every part. Almost all the crosses show some of the main characteristics of the native dog.

The following is the description of the dog as seen in the three main groups of Tonga, the islands of Niua-foou and Niua-tobutabu, islands that lie between Samoa and Fiji, and in the islands of Vatoa and Onoilau, lying in the extreme S E. portion of the Fiji group.

• 1. The dog, normally, is small and low built.
• 2. It yelps rather than barks, and if purely native seldom does more than growl.
• 3. The ears are pointed and large, standing stiffly up.
• 4. The muzzle is pointed, the chest and shoulders heavily built, the body very long, like a dachshund, the hindquarters light.
• 5. The legs are very short and bowed, and bent out again near the foot; in some cases so much so that the lower part of the leg almost rests on the ground with the foot.
• 6. What appears to be not an accident, but a definite characteristic, is that the right forefoot is, in a great number of cases, much more bent than the other three; and even if this is not so in any particular case, the feet will be even, for I have not yet noted a case in which one of the other feet is more bent than the right forefoot.
• 7. The hair is short, close and smooth, and seems to be mostly either reddish-tawny or glossy-black.
• Many other colours show, but among the true native dogs these two colours predominate.

These dogs are generally castrated for use as food. They have always been accustomed to vegetable diet, and even now get very little meat or fish.

This has always been so with them, and may perhaps have influenced the breed.

The notes I have given are merely from my own observation, casually noted in many cases, and I cannot claim to be able to make any deductions therefrom; but these being obvious facts, may be of use to others.

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