NORTH AMERICAN PRAIRIE WOLF. 163 



of lupus. The choice of open plains, burrowing in 

 large communities, instinctive confidence at the 

 approach of man, hunting in large packs, barking, 

 and, finally, the presence of white hair and general 

 aspect, warrant this conclusion. But the prairie 

 dog is reported to be found also in California, and 

 to vary in colour, even in the same litter, as much 

 if not more than true wolves ; we suspect, however, 

 that this assertion refers to Lyciscus cagottis. 



In the old continent, no pale, ashy, wild canine 

 is at present known ; but among domestic dogs of a 

 similar latitude, there are the great Danish dog, 

 and in all probability the primitive greyhound, as 

 will be shown in our description of the feral dog of 

 St Domingo ; and there was a race of molossi, the 

 " Glauci molossi" in the classical times of antiquity, 

 which Caelius mentions as not remarkable for cou- 

 rage. It may be that the typical animal of the old 

 continent has been early absorbed by domestica- 

 tion. 



The little wolf, hunting beavers between the lati- 

 tudes sixty-five and seventy, mentioned by Mac- 

 kenzie, may be presumed to belong to L, latrang, 

 or is a race of the next species. 



