424 



PRACTICAL ZOOLOGY 



are broad, crushing teeth ; the fourth premolar of the upper 

 jaw (pm 4) and the first molar of the lower jaw (m i) bite on one 

 another like a pair of scissors. 



Terrestrial Carnivores. — The dog family is represented 

 in North America by the wolves, coyotes, and foxes. The red 

 fox (Fig. 289) is persistently hunted by the poultry raiser because 

 of its fondness for chickens, but the benefits derived from the 



tr^-y- 



Fig. 290. — Striped hyrena of Africa. (From Beddard.) 



destruction of field mice, rabbits, ground squirrels, woodchucks, 

 and insects, which constitute the larger part of a fox's food, 

 probably more than repay the loss of a few fowls. Foxes seek 

 their food most actively in the morning and evening twilight. 

 They mate in February and March, and give birth on the aver- 

 age to five young in April or May. 



The gray wolf of the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains is 

 over four feet in length and very powerful. Wolves hunt in 

 packs, and are able to capture deer and ot,her large animals. 

 They destroy great numbers of calves, colts, and sheep, and are 

 shot, trapped, or poisoned whenever possible. Many states pay 



