Marked Dogs' Eyes

Can any of yonr readers explain the raeaning of the tan spots seen so commonly over the eyes in black and taa dogs of most breeds? Wben in Melbourne last year, I weut oarefully over all the dogs iu a show with oue of the stewards, and we found the spots in all the black and tan terriërs, foxbonnds, deerhonnds, collies, lurchers, etc, but I oould get no information regarding them from the experts. In some of the highly bied toy dogs, as the small black and tan terriërs, I found on inquiry that these spots, fortnerly so very couspiouous, were beina bred out and hud nearly disappeared. TJieir persistence through so many strongly marked varieties, except thoíw of late date, is singular, for there is fairly good proof thatwhen first doinesticated the dog was red or brown, like the pariah, dingo, etc. As far as I can see, we do not fina the spots white on a black or dark ground, uor yet black or dark on awhite or light ground. My explanation is that they have arisen as a permanent marking af ter the dogs "sported" to black under domestieation and have been preserved and developed through natural selection. Possibly they are pro tective and simúlate eyes. Öne morning, just ut dawn, I had occasion to go out into the Karden, ami while sfoophig to examine some flowers, ne:tr a fence partly covered ■With creepers, I sttddenly Mfw au animáis heaiï looking ihrough, and whatseemed tobe two seejniugiy larga 'nd ferooions black eyes g-ls-red at me. Suspectinji that a black leopard was abötitto'spfiug over, Í siaifed back, clapp'ed my hands and slaouted. To my lehei', huwnvcr, 1 saw a tail wag and found that the spectator was a fooly's dog I knew very well and which reepgnized me. The ive of the tan spot - in tliis case at least - tben occurred to me. May it not tbat the spots thns serve a proteotive pnrpoee and have often saved the lives of dogs (black dogs) from their enemies, the smaller feline.s such as the clouded leopaid, etc? PerJiaps the matter is not new, but if it i it seems worth lookin.; iuto. I bave seyaral dop.s about hcro now wicli bhick hodies and heads. The tac spots, rathcr paie, are of the size of a shilling. I have shot one, keepiug the