xiv INTKODUCTIOK 



ANATOMY OF THE CANIDJE. 



In their external anatomy all the wild Canidce are similar to the 

 Common Wolf, save as regards size and greater or less relative length 

 of ears, tail, and muzzle. Only in Icticyon venaticus is the tail really 

 short, and only in C. zerda and Otocyon megalotis are the ears exces- 

 sively long, but even in them they do not droop as in most domestic 

 dogs. The length and quality of the fur often varies much, even in the 

 same species, according to the season, as has been already mentioned . 

 In no natural form is the skin hairless, as in some American domes- 

 ticated breeds, and the so-called " Turkish " breed of dog. 



Abnormalities, of course, may from time to time be met with, as a 

 Fox has been found with a muzzle so deformed as to resemble that of 

 a Pug Dog. 



The tip of the nose is always naked, and the pads beneath the feet 

 also. There is a more or less trilobate cushion beneath the roots of 

 the toes, and a single one beneath the end of each digit, including a 

 minute one beneath the small thumb, or pollez, and another beneath 

 the wrist. The hair between the pads is mostly but moderately deve- 

 loped ; but in some forms in winter, especially in the Arctic Fox (C. 

 lagopus), the feet (as its scientific name implies) are densely furred 

 below. 



No hallux (i. e. no digit answering to our great toe) is visible exter- 

 nally on the hind foot of any wild species, though in domestic breeds it 

 is often developed, frequently in an imperfect manner, its component 

 bones not being directly connected with those of the rest of the foot, so 

 that it hangs loosely, and is familiarly known as a " dew-claw." 



In the fore foot, a short thumb or pollex (not reaching the ground) 

 is always present, save in the genus Lycaon, which has but a rudiment 

 of it concealed beneath the skin. The toes are each provided with a 

 slightly curved, non-retractile, and more or less blunt claw. 



All the Canida are " digitigrade," that is they walk upon their toes, 

 and not upon the soles of the feet as we do, and as do various Carni- 

 vorous animals, such, e. g., as the Bear and the Coatimondi, which 

 are said to be " plantigrade." In plantigrade animals the parts on 



