348 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



It has been known in Europe in all ages, and should we 

 cite the authors who have spoken of the species as existing 

 in other countries, we should hazard the committal of grie- 

 vous errors. It is certainly to be found in a large portion 

 of Asia. We may also believe that it exists in Barbary, 

 and Major Smith has seen and examined many specimens 

 in North America, as far as the Isthmus of Panama. But 

 the limits within which it may be found are by no means 

 precisely established. 



We should have been disposed to consider the Black 

 Wolf in no other light than that of a black variety, parti- 

 cularly as many species of other genera of the large mam- 

 malia are found to have black consimilars, had not the 

 Baron, in the text, treated it as distinct. It very common ; 

 more so than the ordinary species or variety south of the 

 Pyrenees. 



Independently, however, of the deep and uniform black 

 colour, in which it differs from the common species, there 

 is a deviation also in the relative position of the eyes, and 

 still more in the character of the fur, at least in the speci- 

 men from which our figure was taken, which is now in the 

 menagerie of the Tower; the eyes appear to be rather 

 nearer the ears than in the common species, and the hair 

 seems to be much more erect and plentiful ; indeed, about 

 the neck and throat, it is so bushy, as to shorten, consider- 

 ably, the apparent length of that part. The tail, also, is 

 more villose. In other respects, we observe no difference 

 between the two species. 



The above-mentioned individual has a companion in the 

 same den, where, at least, they do not indulge in ennui 

 from confinement, being almost constantly at play with 

 each other. 



As they are full of life and vigour, it would be no safe 

 experiment to procure their dimensions, but they appear to 

 be little or nothing short of those of the Common Wolf. 



