121 



THE THIBET FOX. 



CANI8 FERRILATUS. 



Vulpes ferrilatus, Hodgson, Journal Asiatic Soc. Bengal, vol. xi. pt. i. 



p. 278, and plate (1842) ; Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1868, 



p. 516; id. Catalogue of Carnivorous Mammalia, p. 204; 



Jerdon, Mammals of India, p. 152 ; Blanford, Fauna of 



British India, Mamm. p. 155 ; Blyth, Journal Asiatic Soc. 



Bengal, vol. xxiii. p. 731 (1854). 

 Cynalopex ferrilatus, Blyth, Catalogue of Mammalia in Mus. Asiat. 



Soc. Bengal, p. 41 (1863). 

 Canis eckloni (?), Prejevalski, Eeisen in Tibet, p. Ill (1884) ; id. 



Third Journey to Thibet, p. 216. 



Two specimens, from Thibet, are preserved in our National Collection, 

 and one of them (a type of the species) is figured in our accompanying 

 Plate XXVIII. It is not without some doubt and hesitation that we 

 present this as a really distinct species, thinking it far from impossible 

 that it may be but a local variety of Canis corsac. 



One distinction consists in the white tip to the tail of C. ferrilatus, 

 whereas that of C. corsac is black. We have, however, already recorded 

 instances which show that this character cannot be relied on as an 

 absolutely constant one. Much more important is the distinction 

 asserted to exist in the length of the ears ; for C. corsac is rather a 

 long-eared dog, while C. ferrilatus has the ears decidedly short. It is 

 this circumstance, together with the fact that it is a native of Thibet, 

 which leads us strongly to suspect that the newly-described species 

 C. eckloni of Prejevalski, which is also a Thibetan animal, may really 

 be nothing but Vulpes ferrilatus of Hodgson and of Blanford. 



Until the detailed description of the animal appears this question 

 must remain undecided, but the photograph already published plainly 



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