237 



FENNEC OF BRUCE. 

 Megaloiis zerda. 



PLATE XX, 



Zerda or Durda of the Natives. 



Dr Ruppel's specimens are one foot four inches in 

 length ; the tail eight and a half inches ; the ears 

 three and a half inches ; and the height at the 

 shoulder six and a half inches. The head is only- 

 three and a half inches long, the cranial part very 

 round, and the muzzle small and fine ; the ears are 

 very ample, slightly pointed, covered outside with 

 cream-coloured fur, inside with a border of white 

 hair, and the rest naked, in the living animal 

 showing a pinkish colour. In the rest of its form 

 it is a miniature fox ; the fur is of cream colour, 

 with the woolly under-coat dirty white ; the irides 

 are yellow ; the pupils round ; the tail is marked 

 on the upper surface, near the base, with a black 

 spot, and the tip is of the same colour ; the soles of 

 the feet are covered with woolly hair. Dr Riippel's 

 specimens were obtained about Ambukol, and in 

 the desert of Korti ; and the species must extend 

 to the south as far as Caffraria and the Cape colony, 



