104 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS ZOOLOGY GENERAL REPORT. 



CANIS, Linn. 



Canis, LINN. " Systema Naturae I, 1735." 



The generic character of Cants may be said to be contained chiefly in the preceding diagnosis of 

 the sub-family. If, however, we really separate the fox-like wolves of South America, or 

 Lycalopex and Pseudalopex, Burmeister, we may add, pupil entirely circular, size large, tail 

 rather short, in distinction from the smaller size, long tail, slender muzzle, and pupil varying 

 from round to elliptical. 



I do not now propose to go into any extensive examination of the skulls of the American 

 wolves, as the materials before me are not sufficient to furnish any satisfactory conclusions. I 

 may simply state, however, that they constitute at least two very well marked sections, whether 

 these contain more than one species each or not. In the one, the skull is slender and the muzzle 

 long and pointed, as in the foxes. The cranium proper is always more convex, and the temporal 

 or sagittal crests are never so prominent. The height of the skull is less than the width of the 

 cranium at the temples. To this section belong the prairie and coyote wolves, all of a size 

 about equal to that of a pointer dog. The other wolves are much larger ; the skull is as high 

 as it is broad between the temples ; the cranium proper is less convex, the temporal or sagittal 

 crest much higher and extending further forwards. The muzzle is broader and less pointed. 

 The orbits are smaller in proportion. To this group belong the white, gray, red, black, buffalo, 

 and other supposed species or varieties of large wolves. 



Attention has already been called to the resemblance which the South American foxes bear to 

 the wolves, especially in the character of the post-orbital processes of the frontal bone. A skull 

 of Canis (Pseudalopex) magellanicus, (1150,) from Chile, now before me, is as long as that of a 

 prairie wolf (C. latrans, No. 818). It is, however, much lower, the upper outline more nearly 

 straight; the cranium proper much less in size as well as less convex. The muzzle is longer, 

 the portion behind the glenoid cavity shorter. The post-orbital processes are further forward, 

 owing to the smaller size of the orbits. The processes exhibit a little grooving, although this 

 is barely appreciable; their upper surface, however, is bent rapidly downwards, as in the wolves, 

 producing a great convexity. The zygoma is much narrower, but longer and less arched. The 

 palato-maxillary suture runs forward to a truncated acute angle, which extends nearly to opposite 

 the middle of the third premolar, instead of only to the anterior extremity of the fourth. The 

 teeth are all much smaller, except the canines, which are appreciably longer. The coronoid 

 process is triangular in outline, with a blunt or rounded apex. 



CANIS OCCIDENTALS, var. GRISEO-ALBUS. 



" Canit (Lupus) griseui, SABINK, in Franklin's Journal, 654." (Gray.) 



ACD. & BACH. N. A. Quad. Ill, 1854, 279. (Gray ) 



Canu (Lupus) occidental^, var.grweu*. RICH. F. B. A. I, 1829, 66. (Gray.) 

 Cnis occidental*, DEKAT, N. Y. Zool. I, 1842, 42 ; pi. xxvii, f. 2. (Gray ) 

 " Cant* (Lupus) albus, SABINE, in Franklin's Jour. 652." (White.) 



ADD. fc BACH. N. A. Quad. II, 1851, 136 ; pi. Ixxii. (White.) . * 



var. 0, RICH. F. B. A. I, 1629, 68. (White.) 



