715 



CANIS. 



CAMS. 



746 



6 1 1 6 6 



Dental formula : incisors, - ; canines, - - ; molars, - - = 42. 

 o 1 1 i 7 



Such is M. Lesson's statement of the dentition of the great genus 

 Canis of Linmeus. F. Cuvier says that Dogs in general have 40 

 teeth, namely, six incisors, two canines, three false molars, one 

 carnassier, and two tubercular teeth in the upper jaw ; and six 

 incisors, two canines, three false molars, one carnassier, and two 

 tubercular teeth in the lower jaw. Of all these teeth, he observes, 

 none change their shape in any appreciable degree in any race what- 

 ever. Only there is sometimes found an additional false molar or 

 tubercular tooth. 



Teeth of Dog. 



Fore feet with five toes; hind feet with four toes; claws not 

 retractile. 



Feet of Dog. From F. Cuvier. 



Generally speaking all dogs have five toes on the fore feet and four 

 on the hind feet, with the rudiment of a fifth metatarsal bone, which 

 does not show itself externally. Nevertheless some dogs have this 

 fifth toe very long and well proportioned, and advancing as far as the 

 origin of the first phalanx of the neighbouring toe ; and in those 

 dogs which have only a rudimentary fifth bone of the tarsus, this 

 bone articulates itself to the lower facet of the great cuneiform bone, 



which is itself placed in relation with the scaphoid bone, the second 

 cuneiform bone, and the second bone of the metatarsus, counting as 

 one the rudiment in question. But in the dogs that have the fifth 

 toe complete, a fourth cuneiform bone is developed between the first 

 and the second toe, and in that case, in some varieties, the great 

 cuneiform bone elevates itself, and on its internal side offers a large 

 articulating facet to the astragalus. 



The tail is very variable in the number of caudal vertebras, which 

 range from twenty-one down to three or even two. 



Of dogs which have been regarded as varieties or species, one of 

 the most remarkable is the Australian Dog, or Dingo (Cams bingo of 

 Blumenbach). It is so wolf-like in its appearance, that Bewick figures 

 it as the ' New-South-Wales Wolf.' Governor Philip describes the 

 height of this species, when standing erect, as rather less than 2 feet, 

 and the length 24 feet. The head, he says, is formed much like that 

 of a fox, the ears short and erect, with whiskers from 1 to 2 inches 

 in length on the muzzle. The general colour of the upper parts is pale 

 brown, growing lighter towards the belly ; the hind part of the fore 

 legs and the fore part of the hinder ones white, as are the feet of 

 both ; the tail is of a moderate length, somewhat bushy, but in a less 

 degree than that of a fox : the teeth, he adds, are much the same as 

 is usual in the genus. 



Skull of Dingo (Canii Dingo}. From F. Cuvier. 



This description may be considered as accurate, with the exception 

 that the animal generally bears a greater affinity to the Wolf than the 

 Fox. " It has," says the author last quoted, describing a female, 

 " much of the manners of the dog, but is of a very savage nature, and 

 not likely to change in this particular. It laps like other dogs, but 

 neither barks nor growls if vexed and teazed ; instead of which it 

 erects the hairs of the whole body like bristles, and seems furious : 

 it is very eager after its prey, and is fond of rabbits or chickens raw, 

 b<K will not touch dressed meat. From its fierceness and agility it 

 has greatly the advantage of other animals much superior in size ; for 

 a very fine French fox-dog being put to it, in a moment it seized him 





Dingo (Canis fantiliaris Attstrulusiir, or C. Dingo}. 



by the loins, and would have soon put an end to his existence had 

 not help been at hand. With the utmost ease it is able to leap over 

 the back of an ass, and was very near worrying one to death, having 

 fastened on it so that the creature was not able to disengage himself 



