AARD WOLF. Tid 
link which connects the civets with the dogs and 
hyenas, three genera which have hitherto stood, as it 
were, insulated from surrounding groups, and widely 
separated from one another. The dogs and hyznas, 
indeed, had been united a short time previous by the 
discovery of an intermediate species in the same 
loeality which has since produced the Proteles ; but 
it is this latter species alone, which, uniting the 
characters of all these three genera, enables us to 
trace their natural affinities, and to assign to them 
their proper position in the scale of existence. 
“ To the external appearance and _ osteological 
(bony) structure of a hyena, this truly singular 
animal unites the head and feet of a fox, and the 
teeth and intestines of a civet. It has five toes on 
the fore feet, and four only on the hind; the inner- 
most toe of the fore foot is placed, as in the dogs, at 
some distance above the others, and therefore never 
touches the ground when the animal stands or walks. 
The legs also are completely digitigrade; that is to 
say, the heel is elevated, and does not come into con~ 
tact with the surface, as in man and other similarly 
formed animals which walk upon the whole sole of 
the foot, and are thence said to be plantigrade. It is 
of great importance to remark the difference between 
these two modifications of the lecomotive organs, 
because they have a very decided and extraordinary 
influence upon the habits and economy of animal 
life. Digitigrade animals, which tread only upon 
Ke 
