238 



Length, head aud body, 20 inches ; tail to tip 14 ; weight 



The desert fox inhabits the north-west of India, from Cutch on 

 the south to Ferozepore, Umballa, aud several parts of the Punjaub. 

 It is said to be the only fox in Cutch and some of the Rajpootana 

 States ; and where it does encroach on the grounds of the common 

 fox, it is always true to the kind of ground it chiefly haunts. At 

 Umballa, for instance, this desert fox is only found on the sandy 

 downs of the rivers about that station, the common fox occurring 

 in the fields around. 



This fox appears to be more carnivorous than the last, and 

 lives a great deal on the Jerboa rat (gerbillus), so exceedingly 

 common among the sand-hills and sandy plains. It is, I think, 

 more speedy than the common Indian fox, and gives a capital run 

 sometimes even with English dogs ; when the fur is in good condi- 

 tion it is very handsome." 



No. 38, Page 59. Large Squirrels. 



Jerdon mentions five species of large squirrels, which must be 

 known to Madras sportsmen, who have perhaps not been able to 

 separate them ; he calles the first the Malabar squirrel and gives 

 the following description of it. 



" Ears, nape, back of neck, the back and sides of the body, 

 bright maroon chesnut ; the posterior part of the back, rump, and 

 upper portion of all the limbs, and the tail, black ; forehead and 

 interocular regions brownish ; muzzle and cheeks rufous ; neck, 

 breast, and lower parts dingy-yellow ; feet rufous in front, yellow 

 internally ; ears small, rounded ; very hairy. 



Length, head and body, 16 to 18 inches ; tail with the hair, 20 

 to 21. 



This race inhabits the southern portions of Malabar, the Wynaad, 

 slopes of the Neilgherries, Travancore, &c., &c." 



His next 



Sciurus maximus the Central Indian red squirrel is thus de- 

 scribed : 



" Similar to the last, but there is never any black on the croup or 

 thighs, and less on the fore limbs ; the tail more or less black or 



