ORDER CARNASSIER. 375 



to the accordance of these characters with those of the 

 Caninae, there seems no good reason for separating this 

 animal from that genus : diminutiveness certainly affords 

 none, and we have already mentioned a Domestic Dog not 

 exceeding five inches in length. 



The Baron confining his most useful exertions to actual 

 observation as an operative naturalist, treats on nothing 

 that has not fallen under his notice in a state of nature, for 

 which reason we are as yet deprived of his observations on 

 this curious little animal. 



The stuffed specimen whence the figure was taken is so 

 small that it might be concealed conveniently in a pint mug. 



After the Caninae, or at least as a distinct section of the 

 race, and before the Hyenas, must be placed a newly-dis- 

 covered or described animal, partaking in several points 

 of both these genera, and consequently intermediate be- 

 tween them ; the number and character of its teeth corre- 

 sponding with those of Dogs, would place it in that sub- 

 genus of the "Animal Kingdom," in which, as may be ob- 

 served, dentition is selected as the most influential dis- 

 tinctive character. 



This, and such like intermediate animals, appear to claim 

 the particular attention of the zoologist, as affording curious 

 matters of fact, from which results remain to be deduced — - 

 they form the connecting links, which, as it were, chain 

 organization together: they seem to multiply the extent 

 and enlarge the influence of secondary causes in the great 

 work of creation, and stand decidedly opposed to a host of 

 other facts which display the impassable barriers interposed 

 by nature between the several creatures and their respective 

 races. 



The colonists at the Cape, as well as the aboriginal inha. 

 bitants there, appear to have been long acquainted with 

 this animal, under the name of the Wild Dog, but its pe- 

 culiarities remained unobserved, until Mr. Burchel pointed 



