127 



THE INDIAN FOX. 



CANIS BENGALENSIS. 



Canis bengalensis, Shaw, Gen. Zoology, vol. i. p. 330 (1800) ; J. A. 



Wagner, Supplem. to Schreber's S-iugth.^ Abth. ii. p. 423 



(1841). 

 Canis kokree, Sykes, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1831, p. 101. 

 Canis chryswus, Gray, Charlcswortli's Mag. of Nat. Hist. vol. i. \i. 'u~ 



(1837). 

 Canis (Vulpes) inc/icus, Hodgson, Asiat. Researches, vol. xviii. part ii. 



p. 237" (1833). 

 Canis [Vitlpes) bengalensis, Gray, HardAvicke's Illustr. Indian Zool. 



vol. ii. pi. 2. 

 Canis [Vvlpes) riifescens, Gray, torn. cit. 

 Vulpes bengalensis, Horsfield, Catalogue of Mammalia in Mus. E. India 



Comp. p. 84; Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1868, p. 517"; id. 



Catalogne of Carnivorous ^Mammalia, p. 204 ; Jcrdon, 



Mammals of India, p. 149 ; Blanford, Fauna of Brit. India, 



Mamm. p. 148. 

 Vulpes hodgsonii. Gray, Charlesworth's Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. i. p. 578. 

 Vulpes xanthura, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1837, p. 68. 

 Cynalopex bengalensis, Blyth, Cat. Mamm. Mus. Asiat. Soc. p. 41. 



This little animal is one of the most attractive of the whole family to 

 which it belongs. It is elegant in appearance, with slender limbs, a 

 sharp muzzle, and bushy tail. Its movements are extremely active and 

 it is readily tamed, when its playful, frolicsome nature makes it an 

 agreeable pet — especially as it is a cleanly creature, and has (unlike 

 C. corsac) no fox-like smell. 



It is a common animal throughout India, save in forest-regions, and 

 is frequently to be seen, as it is not shy, and often enters gardens and 

 other enclosed spaces, though it is said but rarely to molest poultry. 

 Mr. Blanford has seen it on the Maidan in Calcutta, and affirms that 



