464 



MAMMALU. 



rabbits. The period of gestation seems to be very variable, 

 some going as long as fifteen months, others only nine 

 months : they evidently have the power of suspending gestar 

 tion. The lower jaw is remarkable for being closely united to 

 the upper jaw, by the glenoid cavity of the latter bending 

 round the condyle of the former. 



Canid^e (Dogs, Foxes, Etc.) 



The Canidse have pointed heads, smooth tongue, and non- 

 retractile claws. The front feet have five toes, the hind only 

 four. Two or three of the molars on each side are tuberculated. 

 The only two species to be considered are the Fox (Ganis viilpes) 

 and the Dog (C familiaris). The Dogs and Wolves have round 

 or oblique pupils to the eyes ; the Foxes have the pupil 

 slit-like. 



Fig. 220.— Teeth of Dog, and Jaws. 

 I, Incisors ; C, canines ; S, symphysis ; Piitx, premaxillary bone. 



The .Fox {Ganis vulpts) is too well known to need description. 

 It partly lives underground, not only in an " earth " formed by 

 itself, but in those formed by other animals, such as the rabbit 

 and badger. In cold clay soils the fox will lie above ground 

 under old roots of trees, in hollow trees, amongst scrub and 

 gorse, and under the shelter of some ledge of rock along a cliff. 



