552 CARNIVORA 



than in other species, and the facial profile is slightly convex 

 instead of concave. The mammae are also 12 or 14 instead of the 

 normal 1 ; while there is long hair between the f ootrpads. Wild 

 Dogs inhabit not only the whole of the Oriental region, but extend 

 into Central Asia as far north as the Altai and Amur-land (C. alpinus). 

 C. dukhunensis ranges from the forest regions of peninsular India to 

 Gilgit and Western Tibet, where it must inhabit open country. In 

 their general form, and more especially the shortness of the legs, 

 these animals come nearer to the Jackals than to the Wolves. They 

 hunt their prey in packs. Eemains of species of this group occur 

 in the cavern-deposits of the Continent, and have been described 

 under the name of C. europceus. 



A group for which the name Lycalopex has been proposed com- 

 prises certain South American Canidce, distinguished from Cam's 

 proper by their longer tails and Fox-like aspect : C. cancrivorus, 

 C. brasiliensis, C. melampus, C. vetulus, C. fulvicaudus, C. azarce, (7. 

 magellanicus, C. griseus. The last three have been further separated 

 (under the name of Pseudalopex) on account of slight differences in 

 the relative size of the molar teeth, and of their pupil being ellip- 

 tical when contracted. Nyctereutes (one species, C. procyonides, from 

 Japan and North-East Asia) has no claims to generic distinction but 

 such as are founded upon its long loose fur, short ears, and short 

 bushy tail, which give it some superficial resemblance to a Raccoon. 



B. Alopecoid or Vulpine Series. The Vulpine group (Vulpes) 

 includes the true Foxes, of which there are numerous varieties and 

 species, spread over North America, Eurasia, and Africa, which 

 have been described under the names of C. vulpes (Vulpes alopex), 

 the common Fox of Europe ; C. niloticus, adustus, and variegatus, 

 Africa ; C. flavescens, montanus, bengalensis, japonicus, corsac, Asia ; 

 C. fulvus, macrurus, velox, North America. Mr. Blanford 1 con- 

 cludes, however, that the Asiatic C. flavescens and C. montanus, and 

 very probably the North American Cross-Fox (C. fulvus) are merely 

 local races of C. vulpes, distinguished by certain peculiarities of 

 coloration. The English Fox measures about 2 feet in length 

 exclusive of the tail, which is about a foot long. Its fur is of a 

 reddish-brown colour above, and more or less white beneath ; the 

 back of the ears and the fore part of the limbs are black, and the 

 tip of its bushy tail is white. Its long, sharp muzzle, erect pointed 

 ears, and sharp eye, give it the well-known appearance of sagacity 

 and cunning. The Fox is a solitary animal, inhabiting a burrow, 

 which it either excavates for itself, or obtains by ejecting the 

 badger or the rabbit. So averse, indeed, is the Fox to dig for 

 itself, that when foiled in its attempts to dispossess the badger, it 

 has been known to take up its quarters with the latter, and it can be 

 induced to make its home in artificial burrows constructed of stone 

 1 Fauna of British India, "Mammalia," pp. 153, 154 (1888). 



