254 Mr. Hunter’s Gbftrvatlons on the Species 
The times of uterine geftation being the fame in all the 
varieties of every fpecies of animals, this circumftance becomes 
neceftary to determine a fpecies. 
The affinity between the Fox, Wolf, Jackal, and feverai 
varieties of the Dog, in their external form and feverai of their 
properties, is fo ftriking, that they appear to be only varieties of 
the fame fpecies. The Fox would feem to be a greater remove 
from the Dog than either the Jackal or Wolf, at leaf: in difpo- 
fttion, not being either fo fociable refpedting its own fpecies or 
man, but naturally a folitary animal ; from all which I fhould 
fufpefl it is only allied to the Dog by being of the fame genus. 
It is confidently afferted by many, that the Fox breeds with 
the Dog, but this has not been accurately afcertained ; but, if 
it had, it would probably have been carried further, and once 
breeding, according to what we have faid, does not con ft it ute 
a fpecies ; this, however, is a part I mean to inveftigate. 
Wolves and Jackals are found in herds ; and the Jackal is fo 
little afraid of the human fpecies, that, like a Dog, it comes 
into hgufes in fearch of food, more like a variety of the Dog 
in confequence of cultivation than chance. It is by much the 
moft familiar of the two ; for we fhall find hereafter, that in 
its readinefs to copulate with the Dog, and its familiarity with 
the Dog afterwards, it is fomewhat different from the Wolf. 
The Wolf then being an animal better known in Europe, 
where inquiries of this kind are made, fome pains has been 
taken to afcertain, whether or not it was of the fame fpecies 
with the dog ; but, I believe, it has been hitherto confidered 
as only belonging to the fame genus. 
Accident often does as much for natural hiftory as preme- 
ditated plans, efpecially when nature is left to itfelf. The 
fir ft inftance of the Dog and Wolf breeding in this country 
feem$ 
