262 THE LYCAON. 



Nile, sufficient warrant for making use of the above 

 distinctive appellation. In describing the mastiflf 

 race, and in other paragraphs, we have likewise 

 pointed out the probabilities that congeners, or im- 

 mediately osculating species, existed, and possibly 

 may still be found in Asia, nor are we completely 

 satisfied that the Cape, the Nigritian, and the 

 Ethiopic animals are all the same; but whether 

 they be of one or several, their common characters 

 are, — size, inferior to a mastifF; head short, trun- 

 cated ; mouth broad ; dentition very strong, and 

 similar to dogs, but with the central incisors some- 

 what displaced, and the cheek teeth more closely 

 together; snout and muzzle black; ears large, 

 rounded, erect; neck rather long and stiff; body 

 short; limbs highest before, slender; tail short, 

 pendulous, inflexible; four toes on all the feet; 

 pupil of the eyes round ; mamm^ ten ? fur short, 

 close, marbled with black and white upon a white 

 or buff ground ; the throat black, and a streak of 

 the same passing over the forehead to the nape. 



These animals are gregarious, hunting in troops 

 or packs, having an excellent scent and no less 

 piercing sight ; they are fleet in pursuit, active in 

 springing, and scarcely stationary, roaming over a 

 great surface of the country, equally familiar with 

 the forest, the plain, and the mountain; they do 

 not burrow, and extend over the whole of Africa 

 south of the Zahara, and along the Nile, probably 

 through a part of Arabia to the Euphrates, and 

 even further eastward to the Indus ; at least the 



