224 CORSAC DOG-FOX. 



tialf the length, and the snout prolonged to a point, 

 indicating an approach to viverrine forms. The Cor- 

 sac and Isatis of Buffon, Cynalopex corsac^ Nobis, 

 appear to form the connecting link between the diur- 

 nal dogs and the foxes, but to be very distinct from 

 the arctic fox, or Lagopus^ by the superior height of 

 heir legs, the large ears, and shorter fur. We have 

 compared them repeatedly, and cannot account for 

 the mistake otherwise, than by supposing that the 

 older specimens in Museums have been misnamed, 

 and when the Indian designations were superadded 

 to those of the north, the confusion being already 

 established was suffered to remain unrectified. 



The species is little more than one foot nine inches 

 in length, from nose to tail ; the tail about eleven 

 inches ; the ears, two inches : and the height at 

 the shoulder nearly twelve inches. The form of 

 the head is sharp, the ears open, pointed. Tlie 

 colours of the upper parts of the body yellowish- 

 grey, uniformly spread, and resulting from the 

 visible part of the hairs being annulated ochry and 

 white, with only a few pointed black ; the limbs 

 deeper buff; and the tail of the same colour, with 

 a black tip and a blackish spot a short distance 

 down the base : all the inferior parts are yellowish - 

 white. The species lives in large communities, 

 burrows, prowls in packs, feeds upon birds and 

 birds* eggs, conceals superabundant food, utters a 

 kind of barking, and is possessed of a very offensive 

 odour. The Corsac resides chiefly in the great 

 deserts of Tartary, between the rivers Jaick, Emba, 



