FOSSIL BONES IN CAVERNS IN GERMANY. Or>g 



I would recommend therefore to those, who have at their A comparison 



command any of these fossil skulls of wolves, to make a thes * u || s 



. ;. . recommence*. 



comparative examination of them attentively. With accu- 

 rate measurements they might perhaps find some constant 

 speci-fic character. I have before me only lower jaws. Our 

 museum possesses four, all from Gaylenreuth. I have a 

 fifth from the same place, that was in Mr. Camper's collec- 

 tion. 



All these pieces so nearly resemble the analogous bones in 

 wolves and great dogs, that the eye can scarcely perceive any 

 difference, even individually. The ascending branch how- 

 ever resembles the dog more than the wolf, because it is 

 smaller in proportion, and the condyloid process is larger. 

 The groove for the insertion of xhe masseter muscle is also 

 narrower and deeper: but I repeat, these characteristics are 

 so slight, that I cannot venture to offer them as distinguish- 

 ing, if the analogy of other fossil bones did not authorize 

 us to believe, that there were specific differences with re- 

 spect to these also. 



However, if these differences be not sufficiently proved, 

 the identity of the species is not by this resemblance of some 

 parts. The various species of the genus canis, thedifferent 

 foxes, &c, resemble one another so much in shape and size, 

 that it is very possible some of their bones may not be dis- 

 tinguishable. 



It is proper to observe here, that these bones, whatever 

 they are, are in the same state as those of the bear, felis,and 

 hvena; their colour, consistence, and covering are the same. 

 Every thing indicates, that they date from the same period, 

 and were buried together. 



I have taken myself from a block of tufa filled with 

 bones, a tooth, and a metacarpal bone of the thumb. The 

 latter resembles in all respects that of a wolf or a large 

 dog. 



This species of wolf is found, as well as that of the hye- Found with 

 na, with the bones of elephants. Mr. Jaeger has sent me e je„ h °^ 

 the drawing of his most perfect lower jaw found at Cant- 

 stadt, and Mr. Camper that of a tooth of the same kind 

 found atRomagnano, in the place where the elephants bones 

 described by Fortis are found. Mr. Espei says too, that he 



has 



