233 



SECTION VII. MEGALOTIS. 



THE FENNECS OR ZERDAS. 



"Without adopting lUiger s reasons, we detach the 

 present group, under the denomination he applied to 

 the Zerda, from the other diurnal canines, and more 

 particularly from jackals and foxes, with which they 

 have been confounded, and place them immediately 

 after that of Gynalopex^ with which it is nearly 

 allied. When the long brush-tailed species shall 

 have been studied with more care, there is little 

 doubt but that others will likewise require to be 

 separated. The group now under review is formed, 

 because the species that have been attentively exa- 

 mined have the eyes with a circular disk, and there- 

 fore belong to the diurnal tribe ; they have only six 

 mamm8B,(?) and form the last subdivision of those 

 found in the eastern hemisphere. Although, by the 

 increased proportions of the ears, several of the 

 species before described, and most of the smaller 

 African canines, approximate Megalotis^ they are 

 destitute of the following characters, by which 

 alone the Zerdas are distinguished : — They have the 

 ears disproportionately developed, and the folds at 

 the edges double or treble. Such a structure cannot 

 well be given without a coripsoonding effect ; and 



