CARNIVORA. CANIDiE. 29 



somewhat allied, particularly in their memories ; both are forgetful, 

 and little disposed to watch and guard the premises of a master. 

 It would appear from the measurements below, that the American 

 Wolf is somewhat longer than the European. It is not, from 

 some cause or other, so dangerous, as it does not attack travellers 

 as the European Wolf is known to do. The exact measurement 

 of a Wolf in my possession, which was taken in Vermont, is 

 as follows ; 



ft. in. t'ths. 



Whole length, exclusive of the tuft of hair at the extremity of the 



tail, 500 



Length of the shaft of the tail, 14 



Length of the tuft, 3 



Height at the fore legs, 2 10 



" " posterior, 2 4 



From the nose to the ear, 7 5 



Length of the ear, 3 



Circumference just behind the fore legs, . . . . 19 



The measurement of a dried specimen of the American Black 

 Wolf is as follows ; 



ft. in. 



Whole length, 4 4 



Tail, 12 



From the foot to the centre of the back, 15 



Height posteriorly, 18 



From the nose to the ear, 7 



Length of the ear, 2 



If the skin of the Black Wolf was from a full grown individual, 

 it would indicate that it really may be a distinct species. The 

 ear is narrower, and the nose rather more pointed, tail not quite 

 so bushy, and the whole size is less. This individual was taken 

 in Maine. 



The Wolf brings forth from four to six young at a birth, which 

 are born blind. They frequently hunt in packs, and act in con- 

 cert. Their voice is a howl, which they greatly modify. A 

 single Wolf produces such a variety of sounds, that the distant 

 hearer often supposes it proceeds from half a dozen in a pack. 



Genus Vulpes. The Fox. 

 Generic characters. Dental system ; incisors f- ; canines ^Et 5 

 molars -f-Ey ; = 42 ; pupil elliptical ; tongue soft ; ears large and 



