FOXES. 567 



The pretty little Indian fox (C. bengalensis), which, with the 

 exception of an allied species, is the smallest of the true foxes, 

 and is familiar to all who have resided in India, being often to be seen in the early 

 morning close to the fort at Calcutta. The Indian fox, known like the other 

 species in its native country by the name of lumri, measures only 20 inches from 

 the tip of the snout to the root of the tail, while the length of the tail varies from 

 13 to 14 inches. The tail is thus shorter in proportion to the head and body than 

 in the common fox, and the limbs are characterised by their slenderness. Although 

 subject to the usual variation characteristic of the foxes, the general colour of 

 the fur of this species is grey, with a more or less marked reddish tinge, there 

 being no cross band on the shoulders, and the tip of the tail black, while the 

 ears are grey. This black tip to the tail, coupled with the small size of the 

 animal, at once distinguishes this species from all the other foxes inhabiting 

 India proper. 



This fox is to be met with everywhere in India, except where there is thick 

 forest ; but it does not occur to the westward of the Punjab nor to the eastward of 

 Assam, while its reported occurrence in Ceylon is more than doubtful. Its cry is 

 a short yelping bark, quickly repeated three or four times. It is by no means shy, 

 and I have shot one which had walked boldly up to within gun-shot range of my 

 camp. Sir W. Elliot writes that " its principal food is rats, land-crabs, grasshoppers, 

 beetles, etc. On one occasion a half -devoured mango was found in the stomach. 

 It always burrows in the open plains, runs with great speed, doubling like a hare ; 

 but instead of striking out at first like that animal, and trusting to its turns as a 

 last resource, the fox turns more at first, and if it can fatigue the dogs then goes 

 straight away." Jerdon states that " the burrow which this fox makes has always 

 several openings converging towards the centre, some of them blind, others leading 

 towards a larger central one where the animal breeds. This is often two or three 

 feet below the surface. The burrow is usually situated quite in the open plain, 

 now and then in some thorny scrub. In alluvial plains the fox takes advantage of 

 any small rise in the ground to prevent its den being flooded in the rains, and its 

 burrow is frequently found in the dams of tanks and other artificial mounds. I 

 have on two occasions run foxes to holes in old trees, which, from the marks 

 round one of them, had evidently been occupied by the animal for long. Lizards 

 are a favourite food with the fox, as well as rats, crabs, various insects, white 

 ants, etc." 



On account of not possessing the strong scent of its European relative, the 

 Indian fox is but little hunted with hounds. It is, however, frequently coursed 

 with greyhounds, when, from its numerous doubles, it gives a good run ; pure-bred 

 English greyhounds are, however, too fleet to give good sport, and either half-bred 

 or Arabian or Persian dogs are in consequence generally employed. According to 

 Jerdon, when the animal is going slowly or hunting for food, the tail is trailed on 

 the ground; when running, it is stretched out horizontally; while during the 

 doubling it is raised erect. The young are almost invariably four in number at a 

 birth, and are produced during February, March, and April. The Indian fox is 

 easily tamed, and in this state is more agreeable than most other foxes, owing to 

 the absence of odour. 



