152 



south, to Ferozepore, Umballa, and several parts of the Punjab. 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. Mr. Elliot 

 evidently alludes to this species when he says, " It is remarkable that 

 though the brush is generally tipped with black, a white one is occasionally 

 found, whilst in other parts of India, as in Cutch, the tip is always white." 



Dr. Scott, writing from Han&i, says " that this animal is common in the 

 neighbourhood of Hansi in the cold weather only, and rarely seen at other 

 times, whereas V. beiigalensis is equally abundant at all times. Those that 

 live on sandhills get covered with burrs (from a plant very abundant 

 J n such spots), and have much of their fur scratched off." I have now 

 seen this fox at Umballa, near Mozaffurnuggur, and near Hansi and 

 Hissar, almost always on sandhills, or in the broad downy sandy beds of 

 nearly dry rivers. Now and then one may be found in fields near the 

 sandhills, though rarely ; but where this fox is the only species, as at 

 Nusseerabad (I am informed), Cutch, Sirsa, and elsewhere, it does not con- 

 fine itself to the sandy downs, but is also found in open cultivated land. 



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

 deal on the jerboa rat (gerbittus), so exceedingly common among the 

 sandhills 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 condition it is very handsome. 



Vulpes ferrilatus, Hodgson, from Tibet, is a very pretty small fox, 

 which Blyth places, though with doubt, in Cynalopex. It is very distinct 

 from Bengalensis, with which Gray at one time classed it, but approaches 

 the description and figure of C. corsac by Pallas. It has the ears shorter 

 than in Bengalensis, the upper fur pale fulvous, and the sides iron- gray or 

 grizzled white. 



True foxes. Legs shorter ; ears of moderate length. 



140. Vulpes montanus. 



PEARSON. BLYTH, Cat. 131. V. Himalaicus, OGILBY. V. Nepaleiisis, 

 GRAY, apud HODGSON'S B. M. Collections.* Wamoo, Nepal. Loh y 

 Kashmiri. 



* Mr. Ely tb. appropriates this synonym to V. Jlavcacens. 



