SPECIES AND VARIETIES. 661 



his attack, and used to send an animal more than four times 

 his own size howling away, although the density of its woolly 

 covering prevented his short teeth from wounding the skin. 

 When they fight among themselves, the dog that is van- 

 quished is not unfrequently torn in pieces by the rest of the 

 pack. They hunt the larger domestic animals in packs, snap- 

 ping at their heels, and harassing them until worn out, but 

 scarcely ever venture to seize them by the throat." The 

 Dogs of Labrador, however, are of larger size, and are dis- 

 tinctly to be referred to the type of the great Gray Wolf of 

 the same country. 



Proceeding southward, other species of Canidse present 

 themselves, of which one is the Mexican Wolf, Lupus Mexica- 

 nas of Smith. The range of this species is unknown, but 

 individuals have been found as far to the north and east as 

 Virginia. This animal is equal in stature to the Common 

 Wolf, but has the head broader, with a thick neck, and he 

 has a fur of varied colours. It is not known whether it has 

 been domesticated. 



Southward of the mountains of Mexico, various species of 

 Canidae are found, distinct from those of the north. One of 

 the largest of them is the Maned Aguara, which is found only 

 to the south of the line, inhabiting chiefly the swampy and 

 more open countries. It is a large animal, with stout limbs, 

 and is furnished with a remarkable mane ; but it is greatly 

 inferior in strength to the true wolves, and manifests nothing 

 like the courage and ferocity of these animals. Its prin- 

 cipal prey seems to be the smaller game, and, in a peculiar 

 degree, aquatic animals, on which account it is formed to 

 swim with facility. It pursues its prey during the night, 

 and does not hunt in packs like the Prairie Dog, or the 

 Wild Hounds of Asia. It is solitary and timid when reduced 

 to captivity. The other Canidse of South America, usually 

 termed Aguaras by the natives, are of different species, and 

 in external aspect somewhat resemble the curs and jackals 

 with which we are familiar in Asia and Europe. 



