Australasian Dog, or Dingo.

This image is based on the engraving issued in John White’s, Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales engraved in 1789 and published in 1790 but reversed. 

The first report of a ‘wild dog‘ in Australia was made by the Dutchman, Jan Cartenzoon near Cape Keer, Queensland 8 May 1623.

‘went ashore myself with 10 musketeers
we saw numerous footprints of men and dogs (running from south to north)
we accordingly spent some time there, following the footprints to a
river…we also saw great numbers of dogs, herons and curlews…’

Common names: Dingo, Wild Dog or Warrigal.
Binomial name: Canis lupus dingo
Recent synonyms: Canis dingo
First described: Meyer 1793
Distribution: Australia wide (mainland)

Ref Heere The Part Borne by the Dutch in the Discovery of Australia 1606-1765 pp.124-125

From Shaw’s, General Zoology or Systematic Natural History.

‘DINGO, OR DOG, OF NEW SOUTH WALES This animal is a variety of the dog, and, like the shepherd’s dog in most countries, approaches near to the original of the species, which is the wolf, but is not so large, and does not stand so high on its legs. The ears are short, and erect, the tail rather bushy the hair, which is of a reddish-dun colour, is long and thick, but strait. It is capable of barking, although not so readily as the European dogs is very ill-natured and vicious, and snarls, howls, and moans, like dogs in common. Whether this is the only dog in New South Wales, and whether they have it in a wild state, is not mentioned but I should be inclined to believe they had no other in which case it will constitute the wolf of that country and that which is domesticated is only the wild dog tamed, without having yet produced a variety, as in some parts of America.’