14 



Genus Canis (Lin.) 



Canis, Lin., Systema Naturae, I, 1735. 



The generic characters of Canis are included in the description already 

 given. To separate Canis from the South American fox-like wolves, 

 Lycalopex and Psewkdopex, of Burmeister, we have the completely cir- 

 cular pupil, large size, and short tail, as opposed to the smaller size, 

 longer tail, slender muzzle, and pupil varying from round to elliptical of 

 the South American genera. 



Canis lupus occidentalis. ( .) . 



American Woi.f; Timber or Buffalo Wolf; Lobo of thb Mexicans; White, 

 Grizzled, Gray and Brindled, Ebd, Dusky, and Black Wolves of authors. 



o. While Wolves. 



1829. Canis lupus alhus, Sabine, Journ., 652. — Rich., F. B. A., i, 1829, 68. — 

 A. & B., ii, 156, pi. 72. White, pure or washed with yellowish, 

 with or without black-tipped tail. Among the largest of the 

 species. Northerly and alpine. 

 6. Grizzled Wolves. 



1857. C. occidentalis, var. griseo-albus, Newb., P. R. R. Rep., vi, 1857, 37; 

 Coues, Am. Nat., 1867, 288.— 0. variabilis, Maxim. — 0. griseo-albus, 

 Baird, 104. White, more or less grizzled with gray ; large, and 

 rather northerly. An intermediate link between a and 



c. Gray and Brindled Wolves. 



C. lupus, oi authors. — Lupus occidentalis, Peale, U. S. Expl. Ex., 1848, 

 26.— Marcy, Expl. Red Riv., 1852, 200.— Lupus gigas, Townsend, 

 Proc. Phila. Acad. Nat. Sci., 1850, ii, 75. Gray, of variable shade 

 and pattern, generally brindled ; darker along the dorsal aspect, 

 paler or white below ; little or no rufous ; medium size, most 

 general distribution. 



d. Red Wolves. 



0. lupus, var. rufus, A. & B., ii, 240, pi. 20. — 0. occidentalis var. rufus, 

 Bd., 113. Mixed reddish and black, paler below. Small, south- 

 erly, especially Texas. 



e. Dushy Wolves. 



C. nobilis, Say., Long's Ex., 1823, i, 168. — G. occidentalis, vars. nobilis 

 and mexicanus, Bd., Ill, 113. Dusky or plumbeous brown, with 

 or without darker muzzle band and leg stripe. Small, chiefly 

 southerly. « 



/. Black Wolves. 



a lupus ater, Rich., F. B. A., 1829, i, 70.— A. & B., ii, 126, pi. 67.— 

 C. occidentalis, var. ater, Bd., 113. Black or nearly so. Small, 

 chiefly southerly, especially Florida. 



