VULPES. 243 
types in India—the desert fox or fox of the plains, Cynalopex of 
Hamilton Smith ; and the hill fox, which approximates to the European 
species. The former has longer ears and longer and more slender limbs. 
No. 250. VULPES BENGALENSIS. 
The Indian Fox ( Jerdon’s No. 138). 
Native Names.—Lomri, Lokri, Lokeria, Hindi; Kokri,’ Mahrathi ; 
Khekar and Khikir in Behar; Khek-sial, Bengali; Konk, Kemp-nari, 
Chanaak-nari, Canarese; Konka-nakka or Gunta-nakka, Poti-nara, 
Telegu.—/Jerdon. 
Hapitat.—Throughout India; probably Ceylon, as Kellaart men- 
tions having heard of a fox there, but I cannot trace it, or any other, 
in Burmah. 
DeEscrIPtion.—Reddish-grey ; rufous on the legs and muzzle; red- 
dish white beneath ; ears long dark brown externally ; tail long bushy, 
with a broad black tip; muzzle very acute ; chin and throat whitish.”— 
Serdon. 
Here is Colonel Sykes’s description of it in Southern India :— 
“Tt is a very pretty animal, but smaller than the European fox ; 
head short; muzzle very sharp; eyes oblique; irides nut-brown; legs 
very slender ; tail trailing on the ground, very bushy; along the back 
and on the forehead fawn colour, with hair having a white ring to its 
tip; back, neck, between the eyes, along the sides, and half way down 
the tail reddish-grey ; each hair banded black and reddish-white ; all - 
the legs reddish outside, reddish-white inside ; chin and throat dirty 
white ; along the belly reddish-white ; ears externally dark brown, and 
with the fur so short as to be scarcely discoverable ; edges of eyelids 
black ; muzzle red brown.” 
The colour however varies a good deal, according to season and 
locality. It becomes more grey in the cold season. McMaster writes 
that he once killed one silvery grey, almost white. 
S1ZE.—Head and body, 20 to 21 inches; tail, 12 to 14 inches; 
weight, 54 lbs. 
This fox is common, not only in open country, but even in canton- 
ments and suburbs of cities. Hardly a night passes without its familiar 
little chattering bark in the Dalhousie Square gardens, or on the Maidan, 
being heard ; and few passengers running up and down our railway lines, 
who are on the look-out for birds and animals as the train whirls along, . 
fail to see in the early morning our little grey friend sneaking home 
with his brush trailing behind him. 
Jerdon says of the manner in which he carries this that he trails it 
when going slowly or hunting for food; holds it out horizontal when 
running ; and raises it almost erect when making a sudden turn. 
R 2 
