WOLF. 95 



the claws are blunt and non-retractile, the feet being digiti- 

 grade. 



Ah regards the teeth, the uj^per flesh-tooth, or last pre- 

 molar, differs from that of the Cats in having only two lobes to 

 its external blade ; while the lower flesh-tooth, or first molar, 

 has a large tubercular heel at its hinder extremity, and generally 

 a small cusp on the inner side of the second lobe of its blade. 

 The pre-molars (inclusive of the upper flesh-tooth) are four in 

 number on each side of both the upper and lower jaws ; and 

 there are two upper molars, of triangular form, and generally 

 three lower molars, although in certain Asiatic species the 

 hindmost of these, which is always minute, may be absent. 



Comprising several genera, the Family has an even wider 

 distribution than that of the Cats, since it is represented by a 

 species in Australia, which may, however, have been introduced 

 by human agency. In habits, many of the CanidcB differ from 

 the Felidcc by hunting their prey in packs j while none are 

 climbers in the proper sense of the word. 



GENUS CANIS. 

 Cajiis, Linn., Syst. Nat. ed. 12 vol. i. p. 58 (1766). 



Although the Indian Wild Dogs are often separated as Cycu^ 

 while the Foxes are divided off under the title of Vu^fcS, the 

 genus Cajiis is here taken to include the great majority of the 

 members of the Family, with which its distribution is co- 

 extensive. Under these circumstances it will be unnecessary 

 in a work of the present nature to give its distinctive 

 characters. 



I. THE WOLF. CANIS LUPUS. 



Cimis lupus^ Linn., Syst. Nat. ed. 12 vol. i. p. 58 (1766). 



Characters. — Belonging to the typical group of the genus, in 

 which the skull is characterised by the presence of air-cells in 



