RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. Dn. 33: Wagging the tail. CUL-DAR53.2.32. Edited by John van Wyhe (The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed and edited by John van Wyhe 9.2025. RN1
NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volume CUL-DAR53.2 contains drafts, notes & clippings for Darwin's book The expression of the emotions (1872) and notes to correct a further edition.
32
Dn. 33
Wagging the tail
A pure dingo rearing recently has been observed to never seem to wag its tail, but rumpels from its tail, a dog [illeg] wagged their tails & had the confiding disposition of our domesticated dogs.
A. Nicholas –
the Country for 31/12/74
Cited in Expression 2d ed, p. 132n "Mr. Arthur Nicols, writing in 'The Country,' Dec. 31, 1874, p. 588, states that for nearly two years he had "intimate knowledge" of a pure-bred Dingo (which had been reared from a litter of wild pups) and that during this time he never saw it wag its tail or erect it when approaching a strange dog."Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 26 September, 2025