IN GENERAL. 123 
the thighs and shoulders fleshy, and the legs ten- 
dinous ; the muscles appear very prominent, but the 
gait is not in perfect harmony with the conforma- 
tion. Movement with them is somewhat indecisive. 
The head is not carried high, nor is the look bold ; 
for canines in general are. prudent, and become 
daring only when pressed by hunger. 
The smaller diurnal species and the foxes are pro- 
portionably lower on their legs than the first men- 
tioned. The body appears to be longer and the 
head more pointed. Foxes have the muzzle very 
much sharpened ; they carry the head between the 
shoulders ; their forms are more rounded ; and they 
are naturally timid and distrustful. They hunt 
exclusively such creatures as have no means of 
defence; trust entirely to silence and cunning, 
unless they find themselves forced into some unfore- 
seen circumstance: hence they are crepuscular 
and nocturnal in their habits, oppose flight alone to 
every kind of danger, and seek retreat in their earths 
as quickly as possible. They are more cleanly in 
their persons than the diurnal canines, and their fur 
is almost invariably finer and fuller. 
It is among canines, wild or domesticated, that 
the terrible disease known by the names of madness 
and hydrophobia solely originates. Other mam- 
malia may be infected by a bite, but do not seem to 
communicate the virus: to all who are attacked it is 
invariably fatal. India is greatly ravaged by the 
disease ; hyzenas, wolves, dogs, jackals, and foxes 
being alike subject to the infection. Im Germany 
