IN GENERAL. 123 



the thighs and shoulders fleshy, and the legs ten- 

 dinous ; the muscles appear very prominent, but the 

 gait is not in perfect harmony with the conforma- 

 tion. Movement with them is somewhat indecisive. 

 The head is not carried high, nor is the look bold ; 

 for canines in general are prudent, and become 

 daring only when pressed by hunger. 



The smaller diurnal species and the foxes are pro- 

 portionably lower on their legs than the first men- 

 tioned. The body appears to be longer and the 

 head more pointed. Foxes have the muzzle very 

 much sharpened ; they carry the head between the 

 shoulders ; their forms are more rounded ; and they 

 are naturally timid and distrustful. They hunt 

 exclusively such creatures as have no means of 

 defence; trust entirely to silence and cunning, 

 imless they find themselves forced into some unfore- 

 seen circumstance : hence they are crepuscular 

 and nocturnal in their habits, oppose flight alone to 

 every kind of danger, and seek retreat in their earths 

 as quickly as possible. They are more cleanly in 

 their persons than the diurnal canines, and their fur 

 is almost invariably finer and fuller. 



It is among canines, wild or domesticated, that 

 the terrible disease known by the names of madness 

 and hydrophobia solely originates. Other mam- 

 malia may be infected by a bite, but do not seem to 

 communicate the virus : to all who are attacked it is 

 invariably fatal. India is greatly ravaged by the 

 disease ; hyaenas, *wolves, dogs, jackals, and foxes 

 being alike subject to the infection. In Germany 



