58 DOGS. 
merge themselves in the tail. The word itself is from the Greek, the former 
half of it signifying “hidden,” and the latter half, “ hind-quarters.” 
The colour of the Cryptoprocta is a light brown, tinged with red. The 
CRYPTOPROCTA.—(Cryptoprocta ferox). 
ears are very large and rounded, and the feet are furnished with strong claws, 
The toes are five in number on each foot. 
DOGS. 
The large and important group of animals which is known by the general 
name of the Dog Tribe embraces the wild and domesticated Dogs, the 
Wolves, Foxes, Jackals, and that curious South African animal, the Hunting 
Dog. Of these creatures, several have been brought under the authority of 
man, and by continual intermixtures have assumed that exceeding variety of 
form which is found in the different “ breeds” of the domestic Dog. 
The original parent of the Dog is very doubtful, some authors considering 
that it owes its parentage to the Dhole, or the Buansuah of India; others 
thinking it to be an offspring of the Wolf; and others attributing to the Fox 
the honour of being the progenitor of our canine friend and ally. 
All the various Dogs which have been brought under the subjection of 
man are evidently members of one single species, Canis familiaris, being 
capable of variation to an almost unlimited extent. 
It is hardly possible to conceive an animal which is more entirely formed 
for speed and endurance than a well-bred GREYHOUND. 
The chief use--if use it can be termed—of the Greyhound is in coursing 
the hare, and exhibiting in this chase its marvellous swiftness and its endu- 
rance of fatigue. : 
The narrow head and sharp nose of the Greyhound, useful as they are for 
aiding the progress of the animal by removing every impediment to its pas- 
