INTRODUCTION. 93 



pass from one to the other, from the largest Irish 

 greyhound, through wolves, dogs, jackals, and 

 foxes, down to the zerda. Even inHhe wild species, 

 the skulls of the European and American wolves 

 differ sufficiently, if they were of dogs, to constitute 

 two very distinct races; yet if the specimens of 

 M. F. Cuvier can be depended upon, and that 

 ascribed to the American wolf, in particular, be of 

 the species common in the United States, it is 

 singular that, in fur, markings, and stature, there 

 should be almost no external distinction.* But we 

 are not even certain when identity of origin has not 

 been hitherto disputed, as in the case of domestic 

 hogs. It is admitted that in the forest they occa- 

 sionally breed with the wild boar, and that their 

 offspring is as prolific as if it were the result of 

 breeding from the same race. This is also known to 

 be the fact in the mixed produce of the Chinese 

 and European hog. We have had opportunities of 

 seeing the Spanish and domestic breed become wild 

 in South America and in Jamaica, resuming the 

 characters of the wild boar of Europe; even the 

 young becoming striped, like the marcassins of 

 France. Yet if the observations by T. C. Eyton, 

 Esq., reported in the Proceedings of the Zoological 



* Several living specimens, one recently shot, many stuffed, 

 and an immense number of skins, have been examined by 

 us, which resembled the German wolves more nearly than the 

 last mentioned do the Russian, of which we have seen also 

 several specimens. 



