Dog of New South Wales.

The second earliest c.18th engraving made of a Dingo.

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)

‘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.’

From John White’s, Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales

References:
Ferguson, J. A. Bibliography of Australia Volumes 1-8, Canberra 1976 97.
Heere, The Part Borne by the Dutch in the Discovery of Australia 1606-1765 pp.124-125
Hill, J. The Hill Collection of Pacific Voyages. San Diego 1974 1858.
Nissen, C. Die illustrierten Vogelbucher. Stuttgart 1995 ZBI 4390.
Abbey, J.R. Travel in Aquatint and Lithography 1770-1860. London 1972 605.
Wantrup, J. Australian Rare Books. Sydney 1987 17.
Crittenden, V. A Bibliography Of The First Fleet. ACT 1982 248.

Collections:
National Library Australia: Bib ID 87340
State Library New South Wales: Call Number: MRB/Q991/2A2
National Gallery Victoria: Accession Number2012.31
State Library Victoria: CCF 919.44 W58
National Museum of Australia: Object number 2007.0035.0001