362 



TROPICAL AMERICA AND ITS ANIMALS 



(C. azarce), which has several local races, and apparently ranges from Brazil to 

 Patagonia. On the west side of the Andes it is represented by a closely allied 

 form. Like the aguarachay, as Azara's fox is locally called, the crab-eating fox or 

 carasissi (C. thous) is very similar in appearance to a fox. Somewhat larger than 

 the aguarachay, it is generally brownish grey in colour. Its range is commonly 

 said to extend from Guiana to Argentina, although it is unknown on the pampas. 

 Like its kindred, it feeds on rodents and birds, as well as on crustaceans, and 



r 



MA>"ED WOLF. 



is generally a forest animal, although also met with in the open country. There 

 are several other more or less closely allied species which demand no special 

 notice on this occasion. 



A very remarkable member of the family is the bush-dog (Speothus venaticus), 

 of the Guianas and Brazil, which differs from other Canidce both in appearance 

 and dentition. On each side of the upper jaw it usually has only one true molar 

 tooth, and only two pairs of lower true molars, the first of which (the flesh-tooth) 

 has no cusp on the inner side of the blade, and a sharp edge to the heel behind the 

 same. In size the bush-dog is somewhat inferior to an ordinary fox ; it has very 



