IXTEODUCTJON. ix 



Zealand, Celebes, the Philippine Islands, and Ceylon, no members of 

 the family arc naturally indigenous. 



When we recollect how very peculiar the fauna of Madagascar is, and 

 how distinct arc its animal inhabitants from those of Africa, it may 

 seem at tirst to be in no way surprising that none cf the Canidce 

 inhabit it. But when we further reflect that there are wild Canines in 

 South America as well as in South Africa, then the fact docs become 

 noteworthy, seeing that so many Madagascar animals of different kinds 

 closely resemble others whieh inhabit the southern section of the New 

 World. 



No wild Dogs are to be foiuul in the West Indies, but that is not 

 remarkable since so very many animals of the American Continent are 

 wanting in those islands. Such is the case, for example, with the 

 Monkeys — Trinidad not being really a West-Indian island, but a 

 detached portion of the Soutii- American continent. 



If our views as to the specific identity of the various forms of the 

 Wolf on the one hand, and of the Fox on the other, be correct, then 

 C. lupus, C. nilpcif, and C. Ingopm are species which are common to 

 both the Old and the New Worlds. Of the remaining thirty-two 

 species, twenty belong to the former, while only twelve are peculiar to 

 the latter. 



Of the three species common to both worlds, C. layopm has but a 

 very restricted range souths ards from the Arctic regions ; while both 

 the Wolf and the I'ox extend far southwards in both Asia and North 

 America, though the Wolf is absent from Africa. 



Including these three species, thirteen arc found in Europe or in 

 Asia north or north-west of the Himalaya, or in Africa north of the 

 Sahara and west of Egypt, — that is, in what is called the Patearctic 

 Region. Only six are found in the Indian Region, whereof two also 

 enter the Pahearctic area. Africa south of the Sahara, with Egypt 

 and the Nile Valley, is known as the Ethiopian Region, and three Pake- 

 arctic African fornis (C. anthiis, C. vuljjes, and C. zerda) extend into 

 it, while there are eight other African forms, whereof one may extend 

 into South-western Asia. 



South and Central America, with the West Indies, are commonly 



c 



