Japanese Wolf 85 



Persia, Afghanistan, Baluchistan, Gilgit, Western Sind, and the Punjab ; 

 the Tibetan form, as mentioned in Girat and Small Game of India, etc., con- 

 stituting a local race by itself. 



Nothing, on this occasion, need be said with regard to wolf-hunting 

 and the habits oi wolves, subjects which have been fully discussed in many 

 other works easily accessible to the sportsman. 



THE JAPANESE WOLF 



[Cam's lupus Iwdopliylax) 



Although the wolf of Japan, which was named by Messrs. Temminck 

 and Schlegel in 1847, ^^ regarded by Dr. P. L. Sclater as entitled to 

 specific rank, the late Professor Mivart,' following a suggestion ot the late 

 Professor Huxley, saw no reason for regarding it as more than a local race of 

 the common wolf. It was originally described as being very like the latter, 

 but of smaller dimensions, with relatively shorter limbs. A later writer. 

 Professor D. Brauns, states that the tail is also proportionately shorter and 

 the muzzle longer. European wolves are, however, found with the limbs 

 nearly as short in proportion ; and the abbreviation ot the tail seems to 

 be less marked than has been stated to be the case. The skull, which 

 shows a certain amount of individual variation, apparently presents no well- 

 marked specific characters by which it can be distinguished from that of the 

 ordinary wolf. Probably, like many other mammals from the same country, 

 the wolf of Japan has been dwarted by the small area ot its habitat. 

 Various colour-phases ot the Japanese wolt have been recorded, the colour 

 of the fur being described in some specimens as yellowish, in others 

 brownish, and in others whitish grey. 



In general habits this variety, as might be expected, is very similar to 



1 Monograph of the Canidte. 



