leo 



SECTION II. LYCISCUS.* 



THE LYCISCAN DOGS. 



Under this denomination we propose to class the 

 diurnal canines that are not strictly wolves, and 

 reside, with one exception, in lower latitudes, from 

 the southern part of the temperate zone to within 

 the tropics. In examining this group, a further 

 proof may he found, how much the natural history 

 of the whole family is still open to conjecture ; and 

 though it might be objected, perhaps justly, that 

 the species not thoroughly known should not as 

 yet be admitted in the catalogues of mammaliaa, we 

 think, as the existence of the animals is unques- 

 tionable, to present their imperfect descriptions to 

 the reader, has at least the advantage of pointing 

 them out more directly to the inquiries of travellers 

 and naturalists ; the errors that may be committed, 



* " Lyciscus. Hoc idem e lupis galli, quoram greges suis 

 quisque ductorem e canibus Lyciscam habent." Plin. quoted 

 by Cirino. — We do not find this text, but the name is evi- 

 dently connected with the wolf, and has originally no refer- 

 ence to barking. The Teutonic luchs^ anciently given without 

 discrimination to the lynx and to a kind of wolf, is a nearer 

 etymon, and may be derived in both cases from the luminous 

 eyes. The Lupus cervarius of Pliny is similarly both a wolf 

 aud a lynx. 



