INTKODTJCTION. vii 



lizards, mice, snails, and insects, including white-ants and moths. 

 Species which frequent the margins of rivers or the sea-shore will eat 

 various forms of Crustacea and Mollusca, and may be, like the Arctic 

 Fox (C. lagopus), devourers of fish. Various species will also eat vege- 

 table substances and greedily devour fruits of various kinds. 



All the Canidfs, so far as we know, pursue their prey largely by 

 scent, though some do so more than others. In all, the olfactory organs 

 are largely developed, though the senses of sight and hearing are also 

 acute. Almost all, if not all, are active during, at least, part of the 

 night, though many are abroad also during some portion of the day. 

 Though none possess modifications of structure fitting them for an 

 arboreal life, yet some manage to ascend trees, the branches of which 

 are conveniently disposed, by a succession of dexterous jumps. Some 

 domestic breeds take readily to the water, but beyond a slight degree 

 of web-footedness no structure fitting them for an aquatic life is 

 found amongst the Dog-family. 



The Canida generally give out cries which may be called " howls," 

 but some wild kinds emit a yelping bark. Wild species which do 

 not naturally bark at all, will soon learn to do so when confined in the 

 vicinity of barking dogs, which they will spontaneously imitate. 



Not only the Wolf and the Jackal, but various other species, may 

 be perfectly tamed, even wild kinds from the Brazilian forests, such as 

 C. cancrivorus. There is, however, much individual difference between 

 members of the same species, as regards their susceptibility to domesti- 

 cating influences. 



The odour which various species diffuse is exceedingly offensive to 

 most persons in civilized countries, but this scent varies greatly from 

 species to species. Thus, though all varieties of the Common Fox 

 possess a rank odour, the Arctic Fox is altogether free from it, nor does 

 the Bengal Fox possess it. 



The wide distribution of the family over the earth's surface proves 

 that the constitution of the group is naturally susceptible of enduring 

 great differences of climate, and this faculty must have greatly facilitated 

 the domestication of wild species during any migrations which may 

 have taken place amongst the earliest races of mankind. 



