1851.] 147 



of Dr. Woodhouse, read January 7th, 1851, describing a new species 

 of Jackal, presented a report, recommending the same for publica- 

 tion in the Proceedings and Journal, with some additional remarks on 

 the subject by the Chairman, Dr. J. C. Fisher, which was adopted. 



The North American Jackal Canis Frusteor. 

 By S. W. Woodhouse, M. D. 



Char. Esseiit. Hair cinereous grey, varied with black above. Longer on the 

 vertebral line, legs fulvous. 



Dimensions. Total length from the tip of the nose including the tail, with the 

 exception of the hair at the tip, two feet seven inches; trunk of the tail eight 

 and three-tenths inches; total length of ears four and three-tenths inches; length 

 of fore leg nine inches ; from the anterior canthus of the eye to the tip of the 

 nose two and seven-tenths inches ; from anterior angle of ear to posterior canthus 

 of the eye two and four-tenths inches ; between the anterior angles of the ears 

 two and live-tenths inches. 



Description. Hair at base fulvous and woolly, middle of its length white and 

 tipped with black; ears erect, pointed at tip, cinnamon color behind and at the base; 

 inside dirty white, sides paler than the back, belly brownish white, breast brown, 

 chin white, legs cinnamon color; the nose from the eyes to the tip cinnamon 

 color. Cheeks grey; space between the ears reddish brown; tail fulvous below, 

 dark grey above, black at tip, slightly bushy; iris light brown, lips white tipped 

 with black ; it has three series of setas on the upper lip, above the eyes, and on 

 the sides of the cheeks. 



The most remarkable difference exists in the skull of this animal, which 

 more closely resembles the Jackal of the Old World than any known species of 

 wolf. But as Dr. Morton is now engased on a memoir in which the cranial 

 characteristics of the American wolves will be compared with those of the Canis 

 lupus of Europe, I leave this part of the subject in his hands. 



Hahil$. T\\\% animal I first saw at Fort Gibson, on the Neosho river. They 

 frequent this place at night in numbers, making their way to a ditch where the 

 offals of the garrison are thrown. Their baik is sharp like that of a terrier, fol- 

 lowed in quick succession, then a prolonged cry much like that of the hound. 



Four or five of them make as much noise as twice their number of terrier dogs, 

 so that a stranger on hearing them is apt to be deceived as to their number. I 

 have seen them on all parts of the prairie, but they appear to be more abundant 

 near the settlements. 



They prowled frequently about our camp at night, keeping up an incessant 

 barking. 



I procured a male and female; these I regret to say have not lost their milk 

 teeth, but they have attained their full growth, as I have seen numbers of them. 



On showing them to Dr. Townsend, he recognised them immediately, and said 

 that he had seen them frequently on the plains of the Missouri, but never beyond 

 the mountains. 



This animal has hitherto been confounded with the Canis latrans of Say. 



Observations by the Commiliee. 

 The Committee are much gratified with this paper, as it assists in throwing 



20 



