ON THE WOLF OF NIPPON. 138 
Taking all these criticisms into consideration, the result 
seems to be that the Wolf of Nippon,* known as Canis hodo- 
phylax, is a specialized form distinguishable from Canis lupus by 
its smaller size and shorter legs, as well as by certain peculiarities 
in the dentition; at the same time being more closely allied to 
the Indian Wolf, Canis pallipes, by the size of its skull and the 
shape of its teeth. 
Yet on the Island of Yesso the true Canis lupus is generally 
distributed, as appears from Mr, Pryer’s communication above 
referred to, and assuming that Prof. Brauns based his examination 
of Japanese wolves on specimens originating from Yesso,t his 
positive assertion of the identity of the Japanese Wolf with Canis 
lupus is thus fully explained. I am not aware whether Prof. 
Brauns has obtained specimens from the main island for examina- 
tion. So far as I can see, he gives no notes of the dimensions of 
the skulls and skeletons. All the arguments summarised by me 
point to a separation of the Wolf of the main island from Canis 
lupus, and an alliance to Canis pallipes. I am therefore unable 
to agree with the opinion of Prof. Brauns that there “ Certainly 
exists but one species of Wolf in the whole of Japan, Canis lupus, 
which is generally called Ookame by the natives, meaning “ great 
spirit,” sometimes also Yamaimi,—i. e., “mountain dog” or “ wild 
dog,”—and that all allusions to the existence of two species of 
wolves in Japan are attributable to the fact that the Japanese 
names for the Wolf are naturally enough bestowed on the Wild 
Dog, with which it is confounded. To me it seems rather that 
the existence of two species (or races) of Wolf, as affirmed by the 
natives, is no imagination, or resulting from confusion of a Wolf 
with a dog running wild. I purposely say dogs running wild or 
undomesticated ; for if Prof. Brauns’ expression * Wild Dog” be 
understood in its true sense,—that is to say, in the sense of an 
indigenous wild species of dog referable to the Yamaimi,—then 
I do not object, for it would be a mere contention about words to 
consider the Canis hodophylax as a small species of Wolf or else 
* According to Prof. Brauns, it is also found in the Southern Island of 
Japan. 
+ Perhaps on skins which, according to Prof. Brauns, are exported 
in considerable quantities from the Isle of Yesso, where this Wolf is very 
common. 
