VULPES 



325 



Specimens examined. — Six, all from Spitzbergen(B.M.and U.S.N.M.): — 



6 skull. Spitzbergen. Stockholm Museum (e). 90. 8. 1. 2. 



i, 9. Spitzbergen. Dr. J. W. Gregory (c & p). 96. 9. 23. 2-3. 



(96. 9. 2.3. 3. Type of species.) 

 $, 9 skulls. Spitzbergen. Dr. J. W. Gregory (c & p). 96. 9. 23. 4-5. 



Genus VULPES Oken. 



1816. V[ulpcs] Oken, Lehrb. d. Naturgesch., iii, pt. 2, p. 1033, in full on 

 p. 1034 and in index, p. 1268 (Vulpcs communis Oken = Canis 

 vulpcs Linnifius). 



1821. Vulpes Bowdich, Anal. Nat. Classif. Mamm., p. 40 (Canis viilpes). 



1857. Vulpes Blasius, Siiugethiere Deutschlauds, p. 178 (Sub-genus of 

 Canis). 



Type species. — Canis vulpes Linnajus. 



Geographical distrihution. — Northern portion of the northern 

 hemisphere from about the hmit of tree growth south to Morocco, 

 India and Mexico ; in Europe west to Ireland. 



Characters. — Skull slender and low (depth of brain-case less 

 than one-third condylobasal length) ; interorbital region nearly 

 flat, the frontal sinuses scarcely inflated, the postorbital proces.ses 

 thin, slightly concave above, their edges overhanging and bead- 

 like ; dorsal profile of forehead rising very slightly and gradually 

 above level of rostrum ; dental formula as in Canis ; teeth 

 relatively light and small, the length of upper carnassial and 

 molars together contained about 2| to 3 times in palatal length, 

 the general character of cheek-teeth somewhat more trenchant 

 than in Catiis, the canines slender and elongated, the point of 

 upper tooth extending to about level of lower margin of mandi- 

 bular ramus when jaws are closed (fig. 65). 



MemarJcs. — As thus restricted the genus Vulpes contains about 

 thirty-five forms, all jjeculiar to the northern hemisphere. Five 

 of these occur in Europe. 



KEY TO THE EUROPEAN FORMS OP VULPES. 



Size small, hind foot in adult male about 125 mm., 

 condylobasal length of skull in both sexes less 



than 130 mm. (Sardinia and Corsica) T'. ichnus,T, p. 336. 



Size large, hind foot in adult male 135 to 165 mm., 

 condylobasal length of skull in adult male 136 to 



165 mm., in adult female 127 to 155 ram V. vulpcs, p. 326. 



Teeth larger and more robust, the premolars tend- 

 ing to be slightly spaced or in contact, their 

 secondary cusps well developed (Scandinavia)... V. v. vulpes, p. 330. 

 Teeth smaller and less robust, the premolars tend- 

 ing to be widely spaced, their secondary cusps 

 usually obsolete or absent. 

 YeUowish and reddish tints bright ; posterior 

 half of back seldom much frosted with whitish ; 



tail never clear grey (Central Europe) r. v. crucigem, p. 331. 



Yellowish and reddish tints pale and dull ; pos- 

 terior half of back usually much frosted with 

 whitish ; tail often clear grey (Iberian Penin- 

 sula) V. V. yilacea, p. 333. 



