370 Scienttjic Jntdllgcnce. — Zoologij. 



cies of Cauls have been collected by M. Rlippell, the whole of 

 which are here figured and described. Of these we shall men- 

 tion two : Canis Jumelicus. " Canis capite ochraceo ; fascia 

 dorsali castanea ; corpore supra ex griseo-flavescente, infra ex 

 subflavo-albescente ; auriculis permagnis erectis." This cha- 

 racter is derived from the examination of seven specimens, col- 

 lected partly in the deserts of Nubia, and partly in Kordofan. 

 The species is nearly related to the Fennec, which it resembles 

 also in its habits. It is probably the fox-like animal represent- 

 ed on the monuments of ancient Egypt ; as the jackall, Canis 

 aureus, Linn, does not appear to exist there or in the immediate- 

 ly adjoining countries. Canis Anthus, F. Cuv. " Canis ca- 

 pite crassiore ; auriculis erectis, curtis ; gutture et collo infra 

 sordide albidis ; corpore supra ex fulvo, albido, nigro et ochra- 

 ceo vario, infra albido; cauda nigra, basi tantummodo inferne 

 albido ; pedibus ex fulvo ochraceis." This differs in some re- 

 spects from the figure given by M. F. Cuvier ; but M. Tem- 

 minck, who has seen both specimens, considers them as belong- 

 ing to the same species. It may be regarded as the wolf of 

 Egypt and Nubia, where it is very rare, and resembles in the 

 colour of its fur the European wolf. Dr Cretzschmar appears 

 disposed to believe that from it is sprung the noto imdcly dif- 

 fused house-dog. 



21. On the prickle which exists in the tail of the Lion. — Two 

 lions which died some months ago in the menagerie of the King's 

 Garden at Paris, have furnished an occasion of verifying a cu- 

 rious fact, mentioned in some old works, but which modern au- 

 thors have generally omitted ; it is, that there exists at the ex- 

 tremity of the lion's tall a small claw, concealed in the midst of 

 the tuft of long black hairs which occurs there. It is a horny 

 production, about two lines in length, which presents itself un- 

 der the form of a small cone a little curved, and adhering by 

 its base to the skin only, and not to the last vertebra, which is 

 separated from it by a space of two or three lines. This small 

 claw exists in both sexes. The commentators of Homer thought 

 they could explain, by the presence of this claw, a curious and 

 correct remark made by the author of the Iliad, which was, 

 that the lion is the only animal which, when irritated violently, 



