32 CLASS-BOOK OF ZOOLOGY. 



tint between the eyebrows and ears; and found, as it is 

 capable of enduring the severest frost, in the woods and 

 barren grounds from Labrador to Hudson's Bay, as well as 

 in Siberia. It is destructive to all animals, but principally 

 to the beaver and fox, and is called Glutton on account of 

 its voracity. This animal is strong and fierce, and was 

 seen to take away from a wolf the carcass of a deer, 

 but it is easily tamed. The fur is of considerable value 

 to the fur-traders. 



5 83. The American Badger (Meles Labradoria) is two 

 feet and a half long, has long hair of a grayish color, a 

 conical head, with an elongated muzzle, and short limbs; 

 but the fore feet longer, and adapted for burrowing deep 

 and extensive excavations, where several individuals of 

 them dwell, but from which they can be brought by the 

 aid of smoke and dogs. It feeds on fruit, insects, frogs, 

 and other small animals, sleeps during the winter, and is 

 found on the Missouri and Columbia rivers, and as far as 

 Labrador. 



§ 84. Those carnivorous animals which have a smooth 

 tongue, and on the fore feet five, but on the hind feet 

 only four, round not retractile nails, compose the genus 

 Dog, usually called the Canine Race ; as the Dog, the 

 Wolf, the Fox, and the Jackal. 



" § 85. The Dog (Canis familiaris) is the most faithful 

 companion of man, distinguished for the acuteness of his 

 senses, for his great docility and important services, and 

 dispersed with him over all the five portions of the globe. 



\ 86. It is difficult to decide whether the different 

 races of dogs are varieties of one and the same species, 

 or whether they are derived from the wolf, fox, or 

 jackal. Wild dogs are found nowhere, and many 

 believe that the dog is a descendant of the wolf or the 

 fox ; but in spite of the similarity between these animals, 

 there are several arguments against this opinion, for 



§ 87. 1 . Dogs, wolves, and foxes have a natural aversion 

 to each other ; and even when brought together, when very 

 young, they do not continue to live in harmony, but evince 

 a hostile disposition towards each other after they are 

 grown. 



