118 THE CANINE FAMILY 
hangs to the left; which Sonnini justly ascribes to 
their action of galloping. 
The mamme are from six to ten in number, and 
their liability to vary in domestic dogs is a further 
indication of a plurality of original species in their 
constitution. The typical colours of the fur appear 
to be ochrey, white, and black, commonly inter- 
mixed, so as to form greys of different tones, or 
clouds, of tan or brown: the aberrant are fiery 
rufous and bluish ash. These colours are liable to 
vary according to the latitudes the species occupy, 
or according to the season of the year or particular - 
race they belong to. Some true wolves and the 
lyciscans of America are reported to differ very 
considerably in the same litter, and the Lycaon 
pictus never occurs with the markings distributed 
exactly alike. 
They are almost universally animals endowed 
with a prodigious delicacy in the organs of scent: 
their hearing is acute; the sight very good; but 
the senses of touching and tasting are not so per- 
fect: the last mentioned, in particular, taken accord- 
ing to human notions, is singularly at variance with 
delicacy, for it shows no repugnance to corrupted 
flesh. It is observed, even of lap-dogs, most daintily 
fed, that they will often forsake the savoury dishes 
prepared for them, to gorge upon carrion, and 
manifest the intense pleasure they receive by rolling 
upon it. 
Hence, perhaps, canines are not personally so 
