202 



THE LARGE-EARED CAPE DOG. 



OTOCYON MEGALOTIS. 



Canis megalotis, Desmarest, Mammalogie, Supplement, p. 538 (1822) ; 



A. Smith, South-African Quarterly Journal, vol. ii. p. 90 



(1835). 



Canis lalandii, Desmoulins, Diet. Class. d'Hist. Nat. vol. iv. p. 18 (1823). 

 Megalotis lalandii, Gray, Griffith's An. King. vol. ii. p. 372; id. Proc. Zool. 



Soc. 1868, p. 523; id. Cat. Carnivorous Mammalia, p. 211. 

 Otocyon coffer, Lichtenstein, Archiv f. Naturgesch. iv. Jahrgang, Bd. i. 



p. 290 (1838) ; J. A. Wagner, Supplement to Schreber's 



Saugthiere, Abth. ii. p. 361. 

 Agriodus auritus, Hamilton Smith, Jardine's Naturalist's Library, vol. x. 



p. 260, plate 23 (1840). 



THIS animal is by far the most aberrant of all the Canida, not only as 

 regards the number of its teeth, but also as regards their relative pro- 

 portions; and, indeed, the lateral aspect of the skull is very different 

 from that of all the other Canida. 



It comes from South Africa, that highly interesting region which has 

 afforded so many exceptional forms of both animal and vegetal life. 

 It was discovered there by M. de Lalande, who first sent its relics to 

 Europe from the Cape of Good Hope. 



We have not been able to ascertain any facts concerning its habits 

 or life-history, except that it has lived in our Zoological Gardens, where 

 it was shy yet gentle, was fed on raw meat, and slept during a great 

 part of the day. 



It is about the size of a large fox, but stands somewhat higher on 

 the legs, and has a shorter but equally bushy tail. Its ears are very 

 large, reminding us of those of Canis zerda, only that they are relatively 

 broader. 



