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On the Distinctive Characters of the Dog, the Wolf, and the 

 Fox, as supplied by the Skeleton. By M. Marcel de 

 Serres 



The distinguishing of species is one of the most important 

 points in the study of animals ; and this distinction is often very 

 difficult, especially in relation to approximating species, such as 

 the dog, the wolf, the chacal, and the fox. In truth, the analo- 

 mes which exist among these animals are so numerous and so 

 strong, that it is only by the most accurate examination that we 

 can succeed in distinguishing their skeletons ; and the difficulty 

 is much increased, as we are often required to determine them, 

 at least as it regards fossil species, from the examination of 

 mere fragments. 



For the purpose of distinguishing three of these species, so 

 closely allied, we have undertaken a minute examination, to as- 

 certain whether the characters supplied by the form and dispo- 

 sition of the head, afford means of discrimination. We think 

 we have succeeded in discovering them, and a correct judgment 

 respecting this opinion may be formed from the following de- 

 tails. 



The dog and the wolf form species so closely allied and con- 

 nected, that many have been ready to suppose that they were 

 identical. But this supposition will scarcely be admitted by 

 those who believe that the species is determined by the common 

 laws of descent. It is true that the wolf and dog may be made 

 to propagate, but only when both are deprived of their liberty ; 

 and the off'spring of this union cannot be perpetuated for an in- 

 definite time ; it cannot be prolonged beyond the third, or at 

 most the fourth generation. 



This forced and unnatural commerce, then, is never to be 

 compared with that which uniformly takes place between indi- 

 viduals of the same species. We do not deny that the former 

 sometimes takes place, but never naturally, and only under pe- 

 culiar circumstances, such as the privation of liberty, and con- 

 straints of their inclinations. Such unions as these are not known 

 to produce results similar to those which follow the play of the 



