WOLF. 



95 



the claws are blunt and non-retractile, the feet being digiti- 

 grade. 



Afi regards the teeth, the upper flesh-tooth, or last pre- 

 molar, differs from that of the Cats in having only two lobes to 

 its external blade ; while the lower flesh-tooth, or first molar, 

 las a large tubercular heel at its hinder extremity, and generally 

 I small cusp on the inner side of the second lobe of its blade, 

 rhepre-molars (inclusive of the upper flesh-tooth) are four in 

 lumber on each side of both the upper and lower jaws ; and 

 .here are two upper molars, of triangular form, and generally 

 :hree lower molars, although in certain Asiatic species the 

 lindmost of these, which is always minute, may be absent. 



Comprising several genera, the Family has an even wider 

 iistribution than that of the Cats, since it is represented by a 

 pecies in Australia, which may, however, have been introduced 

 3y human agency. In habits, m.any of the CatiidcB differ from 

 he Felidce by hunting their prey in packs; while none are 

 limbers in the proper sense of the word. 



GENUS CANIS. 

 '^ants^ Linn., Syst. Nat. ed. 12 vol. i. p. 58 (1766). 



Although the Indian Wild Dogs are often separated as CycUf 

 vhile the Foxes are divided off under the title of Vulf<:s^ the 

 jenus Caiiis is here taken to include the great majority of the 

 ■nembers of the Family, with which its distribution is co- 

 jxtensive. Under these circumstances it will be unnecessary 

 n a work of the present nature to give its distinctive 

 characters. 



I. THE WOLF. CANIS LUPUS. 



'anis lupus, Linn., Syst. Nat. ed. 12 vol. i. p. 58 (1766). 

 Characters. — Belonging to the typical group of the genus, in 

 yhich the skull is characterised by the presence of air-cells iii 



