124 THE DESERT-FOX. 



and Hissar, almost always on sand-hills or in the broad sandy beds of 

 nearly dry rivers, and only very rarely in fields, and then in the vicinity 

 of sandy tracts. He was informed, however, that in parts of Cutcii 

 and elsewhere, where it is without the presence of a rival species, it 

 was to be found in open cultivated land. 



It appears to be more exclusively carnivorous in its habits than some 

 other foxes, — -for example, than that next to be described. Its food 

 largely consists of the jerboa-like sand-rat {Gerbillus), which is very 

 abundant in the sandy regions this Fox inhabits. It is a rather rapid 

 runner — enough so, according to Jerdon, to give huntsmen a capital 

 run, sometimes even with English dogs. 



According to Blanford *, it is common in Scinde on the waste land 

 with scattered bushes that forms so large a portion of the province, a 

 region also inhabited by the s[)ecies next described. But C. Jeucopus 

 appears to be the only form actually found amongst the sand-hills of 

 the desert. 



The author last mentioned is now disposed to think that his V. per- 

 ■sicus may be identical with C. leucopus. In this we are disposed to 

 agree, though it may be that his V. persicus is a local variety of C. vulpes. 



A specimen was sent from Bushire, on the Persian Gulf, to the 

 Zoological Society in 1874, the skull and skin of which wo have 

 examined. According to Major St. John, it inhabits the low land. It 

 is said to be very plentiful on the rocky ground close to the shore, 

 where it retreats into cavities between the rocks. These animals are 

 easily captured with the aid of dogs, and Europeans resident in Bushire 

 frequently amuse themselves by hunting them, when they are said 

 often to seek safety by taking to the sea to avoid the dogs. 



When the colours of this Eox are fully developed, it is easily distin- 

 guishable by a very distinct pale patch on each side of the back behind 

 the shoulder (to which Mr. Blanford has already called attention)!, 

 while a dark transverse stripe over the shoulder passes in front of these 

 light patches, to which it forms a strong contrast. 



The back varies from brownish yellow to rusty red, more or less 

 speckled with white, while the sides of the body are whitish or greyish, 

 * 0^. fit. p. 152. t Op. cit. p. 151. 



