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Show 1868.] DR. J. E. GRAY ON THE CANIDJI. 493 Animals, represents the Buansu (Cuon), the Jackal or Shidar (Saca-lius indicus), the Cabul Greyhouud (Canis cabulensis), the Tibetan Terrier, Tibetan Mastiff (with four and five claws), Vulpes ferrilatus, V. indicus, and V. subhimachalus, as all having round pupils ; but I doubt if in the three last-mentioned this is not a mistake of the artist. Dr. Riippell, in his 'Atlas,' figures the Fennec and the North- African Foxes with round pupils. The dentition of the family is generally uniform. The normal number of teeth is 42, viz. cutting-teeth |, canines £ j , premolars 3-f^., sectorial teeth ^ , tubercular grinders ~z. The incisors, canines, first premolars, and the last lower molar have a single fang; the second and third upper premolars and all the premolars and molars below, but the last, have two fangs. The upper sectorial or fourth premolar and the last upper true molar have three fangs, the first upper premolar four fangs. (De Blainville.) Some genera of the family present certain anomalies. Thus Lcticyon has only 38 teeth, there being only one tubercular grinder on each side of each jaw; Cuon has 40 teeth-that is, has two tubercular grinders on each side of the upper, and only one on each side of the lower jaw. On the other hand, Thous and 31egalotis have 44 teeth-that is, two tubercular grinders on each side of the upper, and three on each side of the lower jaw. Sometimes some anomalous specimens present an excess over the usual number of teeth : thus M. de Blainville has figured a Mastiff with three tubercular grinders on each side of each jaw, the hinder small, cylindrical. (Ann. Franc. et Etrang. d'Anat. fyc. ii. p. 313, t. I. f. 2.) The sectorial teeth in the upper jaw, in all the typical Canidee, are compressed, three-lobed, with a small internal lobe close to the front edge. In the aberrant Otocyon, on the contrary, the sectorial tooth is nearly triangular, almost as wide as long, very unlike those of the other Dogs. I. Tubercular grinders in the upper and lower jaws; false grinders 2 or 3 in each jaw. Head elongate ; nose more or less produced. Family 1. CANHLE. Tubercular grinders two in each jaw; molars zffj. or more. Feet produced ; toes 5/5, straight, free, with blunt, exposed, worn-tipped claws ; the front inner toe high up, rarely wanting. Canidee, Baird, M a m . N. Amer. p. 103, 1859. i. Normal Canidee. The upper sectorial grinders compressed, three-lobed, with a small tubercle on the front of the inner edge. Section I. LUPINE. The skull thick, solid; the postorbital process thick, convex above and bent down at the tip. Lupinee, Burmeister. |
