142 



THE PALE FOX. 



CANIS PALLIDUS. 



Cants pallidus, Riippell, Zool. Atlas, p. 33, pi. 11 (1826); Cuvier, Regne 

 Anim. 2nd edit. vol. i. p. 152 ; J. A. Wagner, Supplement 

 to Schreber's Saugth., Abth. ii. p. 422. 



Fennecus pallidus, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1868, p. 520; id. Catalogue 

 of Carnivorous Mammalia, p. 207. 



Vulpes edwardsi, Rochebrime, Bulletin d. la Societe Philomatique d. 

 Paris, p. 8 (1882) ; id. Faune de la Senegambie, Mam- 

 miferes, p. 93, pi. 5 (1883). 



THIS smaller long-eared Fox approximates still more than the last to 

 the true Fennec. Cuvier deemed that it could hardly be satisfactorily 

 distinguished from C. corsac, but in addition to its widely different 

 geographical distribution it is a larger-limbed and higher-standing 

 animal. 



The general colour is that of a pale, slightly reddish yellow, the 

 woolly hair of the back being grey towards the roots. There are many 

 white hairs on the head. The ears are coloured like the body externally, 

 and margined with white within. 



On the back and neck the hairs are variegated with white, black, 

 and yellow, but black is almost wanting from the hairs on the sides of 

 the body, which are almost entirely yellowish. The cheeks, throat, 

 and underparts are whitish. The tail has a black spot on its dorsuni 

 about an inch distant from its roots. There are many black hairs 

 on the tail, which is black towards and at its apex. The inner sides 

 of the feet are white, more or less rusty coloured externally. The 

 specimens in the British Museum, whereof one is the subject of our 

 Plate XXXIV., are covered with close pale hair, and there is a white 

 spot both above and beneath each eye. 



