296 Field Museum of Natural History — Zoology, Vol. XI. 



Family CANIDt^. Wolves, Foxes, Dogs, 



etc. 



This family comprises the dog-Hke animals, including the Wolves, 

 Foxes, Jackalls, etc.; and is practically cosmopolitan, representatives 

 being found in all the continents and many of the larger islands except 

 New Zealand and, perhaps, Australia, as there is some doubt as to 

 whether the Wild Dog of the latter country is the descendant of an in- 

 digenous or an introduced species. Unlike the Cats, the claws of these 

 animals are not retractile, sharp, or curved, and are of little use to them 

 in capturing prey, their only weapons of offense being their powerful 

 jaws and teeth. In the Canidce a caecum is always present and, while 

 in some species it is short and simple, in others it is of fair size and is 

 often more or less coiled and twisted; that of an average size dog, 

 when uncoiled, is usually about 5 or 6 inches in length. Other char- 

 acters for this family are, inflated but only partially divided audital 

 bullae, the septum being incomplete; alisphenoid canal present; four 

 premolars on each side of both jaws and upper camassial with two cusps. 



Prof. Huxley divided the numerous species belonging to this family 

 in two series: The Lupine or wolf-Hke forms, and the Vulpine, consist- 

 ing of the Foxes and their allies. The latter hunt in a stealthy manner 

 and generally prey upon animals smaller than themselves. The Lupine 

 forms, on the contrary, are larger, bolder and more powerful, and when 

 gathered together in packs will pursue and kill large animals, such as 

 Buffalo, Elk and Deer, and when pressed by hunger will even attack 

 man. 



In Russia and other parts of northern Europe, Wolves are greatly 

 feared by the peasants in sparsely settled districts, and much has been 

 written by ancient writers, such as Pliny, Aristotle, Topsell and^ 

 others, regarding their ferocity and cunning, who vied with each other 

 in lauding the sagacity displayed by these animals, in many instances 

 being apparently unable to separate truth from fiction. Writing in 

 1607, Edward Topsell says,* "It is also worth the observation how he 



As described by Topsell. 



* Historie of Foure Footed Beastes, London, 1607, p. 739. 



