258 



Western Europe). Again, in the American Journal of 

 Mammalogy (Vol. I., No. 3, May, 1920, p. 149), Mr. Miller 

 states, "In all specimens (of domestic dogs) that I have 

 examined, representing very diversified breeds, the skull and 

 teeth remain fundamentally true to the type which in wild 

 canids is peculiar to the northern wolves. This type, par- 

 ticularly as regards the cheek teeth, does not represent a 

 primitive condition which might be expected to occur in 

 various members of the family without having any special 

 significance. On the contrary, in respect to the development 

 of a combined cutting and crushing type of carnassials and 

 molars it is the most highly specialized type now in existence." 



The domestic dogs are, therefore, monophyletic in so far 

 as all are the descendants of the northern wolves; but, as 

 Mr. Miller points out, domestic dogs will breed back with 

 wolves, "and by this process many, possibly all, local forms 

 of the wolf have perhaps contributed to the peculiarities of 

 the domestic races." In other words, the domestic dogs may 

 be claimed as polyphyletic in so far as various local races of 

 northern wolves may have contributed to their ancestry; but 

 monophyletic in so far as nothing but northern wolf has gone 

 to their making. 



The examination of a series of Dingo skulls can leave no 

 doubt as to the true affinities of the Australian animal. The 

 Dingo falls into line with all the other races of domestic dogs 

 in being of the true northern wolf type. Moreover, in the 

 large size of the carnassial teeth he approaches nearer to the 

 ancestral type than do the other races of dogs of which I can 

 obtain specimens or records. 



The following table (Table I.) shows the basi-condylar 

 length of the skull, and the length of the upper carnassial 

 tooth, in a series of 22 genuine Dingo skulls. For permission 

 to examine 20 of these specimens I am indebted to the authori- 

 ties of the South Australian Museum (measurements are in 



millimetres) : — 



Table I. 





No. and source of 



Basi 



-condylar 



Upper carnassial 





specimen. 





ength. 



length. 



1. 



S.A.Mus. 





165 



195 



2. 



S.A.Mus. 





165 



20 



3. 



S.A.Mus. 





167 



19 



4. 



S.A.Mus. 





169 



21-5 



5. 



S.A.Mus. 





170 



18 



6. 



S.A. Mus., reared in captivity, Q 



170 



16 



7. 



S.A.Mus. 





171 



21 



8. 



S.A. Mus. 





174 



19-5 



9. 



S.A.Mus. 





175 



. 21 



10. 



S.A.Mus. 





176 



20 



11. 



F. W. J. ..: 





177 



20 



