268 AFRICAN GAME ANIMALS 



from South Africa differs by being chiefly ochraceous in 

 color, the black being but a small per cent of the dorsal 

 coloration, and the back of the ears differ by being chiefly 

 ochraceous instead of black. Much individual variation 

 in coloration, however, exists and no two specimens are 

 marked on the back quite alike or in the same proportion 

 with the three colors, black, ochraceous, and white. This 

 variability in coloration is well shown by a series of six 

 adults, two females and four males, shot from the same pack 

 and collected by the Rainey expedition on the Loita Plains. 

 In two of these specimens the black areas predominate over 

 the yellow on the body, while in the other four the yellow 

 is somewhat in excess of the black. One of the specimens 

 has a white spot on the shoulder, but in the others no white 

 appears in the coloration. All of the specimens show some 

 white blotches on the under-parts, particularly the breast, 

 but the predominant color below is black. The legs are 

 irregularly striped and marbled on the outer side by white, 

 the white area being equal to that of the black and yellow 

 combined. The tail is another extremely variable feature 

 in color. The white tip varies from a few white hairs to 

 two-thirds the tail length in extent. The median portion 

 is usually black, this part varying from a narrow ring one- 

 quarter of an inch wide to two-thirds the whole tail. The 

 basal one-third is ochraceous in all the specimens. The 

 head and nape are the only portions which show a definite 

 and constant color pattern. The nape and crown of the 

 head are uniform ochraceous, marked by a wide black 

 stripe along the median line. The snout from the eyes 

 forward and the sides, chin, and forethroat are uniform 

 black, as are also the backs of the ears. The inner side and 

 the extreme base of the latter are ochraceous, like the 

 crown and cheeks. Aged specimens often show very little 

 hair, being quite hairless and slaty-black like Mexican hair- 

 less dogs. The coat is longest and heaviest in the young 

 adults. There are no sexual differences in color. Puppies 

 and immature specimens are quite blackish, with little or no 

 yellow and whitish except on the terminal tail tuft. 



The flesh measurements of an old male from the Loita 

 Plains were: head and body, 38 inches; tail, 15 inches; 

 hind foot, 9>^ inches ; ear, 5>^ inches. The female is some- 



