340 THE FENNEC. 
of the bare, branchless stem. Yet the Fennec is said to possess the capability of climbing 
the trunk of the date-palm, and of procuring for itself the coveted luxury. 
This creature presents so strange a medley of characteristics that it has proved a sad 
stumbling-block to systematic zoologists, and has been so frequently transferred by them 
from one portion of the animal kingdom to another, that its position in their catalogues 
seems to vary as often as the different lists are published. One celebrated naturalist 
considers the Fennec to belong to the civets and genetts; another ranks it with the 
hyzenas ; while a third believes that its true position is among the Galagos. Now, 
however, it finds a resting-place in the genus Vulpes, being a congener with the various 
foxes of the Old and New Worlds. 
It must here be remembered that the generic distinction of dogs and foxes can 
hardly be regarded as a settled matter, and that many practical naturalists favour the 
opinion that the foxes ought to be included in the genus “Canis.” That the dog and 
the fox will produce a mixed 0 ffspring is now generally allowed. There. are many 
authenticated accounts of such mixed breeds, dating from the earlier part of the present 
century up to the present time. Moreover, it has been found that the offspring of the dog 
and the fox is capable of reproduction when it is again crossed with the dog. Should 
this experiment be successfully conducted to a still farther extent, and the vulpo- canine 
offspring of both sexes be found capable of mutual reproduction, the difficult question to 
which we have referred will be finally solved. 
Like the veritable foxes, the Fennee is accustomed to dwell in subterranean abodes, 
which it scoops in the light sandy soil of its native land. Bruce, who claims the honour 
of introducing this curious little animal to zoological science, avers that it builds its nest 
in trees. Riippell, however, who may lay claim to more scientific knowledge than was 
possessed by Bruce, distinctly contradicts this statement, and asserts that it lives in 
“burrows” like other foxes. 
This curious little animal is not entirely without its use to man; for its fur is of 
considerable value among the native tribes of the locality wherein it is found. The skin 
of the Fennec, called “motlose” in the native dialect, is said to furnish the warmest fur 
in Africa, and is highly prized for that quality. And as, on account of the diminutive 
size of the animal, a single skin forms but a very small portion of a garment, a mantle 
which is composed of “motlose” fur is valued very highly, and can with difficulty be 
purchased from its dark owner. 
As is the case with the greater number of predaceous animals, the Fennec is but seldom 
seen during the daytime, preferring to issue forth upon its marauding expeditions under 
the friendly cover of night. Even when it has spent some time in captivity, it retains its 
restless nocturnal demeanour, and during the hours of daylight passes the greater portion 
of its time in semi-somnolence or in actual sleep. Ona comparison with the Otocyon, the 
Fennec appears at first sight to bear so close a resemblance to that animal that either of 
the two creatures might easily be mistaken for the other. The slender body, the bushy 
tail, the sharply pointed snout, and the extraordinarily long ears, are so conspicuously 
notable that the two animals have frequently been confounded together, and actually 
figured under the same title. Yet, as has been already mentioned, when treating of the 
Otocyon, the distinguishing characteristics are so strongly marked as to justify their 
separation, not only into different species, but into different genera. 
It is a quaint little creature in its aspect, and wears an air of precocious self-reliance 
that has quite a ludicrous effect in so small an animal. The colour of its eyes is a 
beautiful blue, and the “whisker” hairs which decorate its face are long and thick in their 
texture, and white in their colour. The honour of introducing the Fennec into Europe is 
claimed by two persons ; the one being Bruce, the celebrated traveller, and the other being 
a Swedish gentleman of the name of Skioldebrand. The latter writer was certainly the 
first person who publicly brought the Fennee before the zoologists of Europe, but is 
supposed to have succeeded in his ambition by means which were hardly just or 
honourable. 
The Fennec is identical with the fox-like animal that is named “Zerda” by Riippell, 
and “Cerdo” by Illiger. 
