568 



CARNIVORES. 



This fox (C. canus) is a still smaller species inhabiting Balu- 

 chistan and the southern parts of Afghanistan, and at present known 

 in Europe by only three specimens. The length of the head and body is only 

 18 inches, and that of the unusually long tail from 15 to 16 inches. It is distin- 

 guished from the preceding species by the more ashy-grey tinge of its fur. 



LONG-EARED FOXES (Canis chawia, zerda, etc.). 



The South African asse fox (C. chama) is the first of a group of four species 

 from Africa, two of these being characterised by the extreme length of their ears. 

 It is somewhat smaller than the common fox, but it has considerably longer ears, 

 and therefore appears to form a kind of transition from the true foxes towards 

 the fennecs. It is a yellowish-coloured animal, with some black hairs mingled 

 with the light fur of the back, a black tip to the tail, and some chestnut splashes 

 on the snout. It inhabits both sides of the Orange River in great and little 

 Namaqualand, and extends eastwards to Kimberley. 



This fox (C. pallidus) may be distinguished at a glance from the 

 preceding, not only by its much smaller size, but likewise by its 

 longer ears and the thinness of the tail. The general colour is a pale yellow, with 

 a faint tinge of red; the tail having many black hairs among the lighter fur, a 

 small dark spot on the upper-surface near the root, and a small black tip. In its 

 smaller size and longer ears, this species approaches still closer to the fennecs. It 

 comes from East and West Africa, having been obtained from Senegambia and 

 Nubia and Kordofan. 



Riippell's fennec (C. famelicus) is distinguished from all the 

 'species hitherto noticed by the great length of its ears, although these 

 are proportionately smaller than in the true fennec. It is a smaller animal than 

 the pale fox, the length of the head and body being about 19 inches, and that of the 

 tail 9J inches ; while the ears measure just over 3 inches in length. This fox has 

 a fawn-coloured head, reddish back, shoulders, and tail, greyish sides, and nearly 

 white under-parts ; but as it can be so easily recognised by its ears, it is unnecessary 

 to devote further attention to its colouring. Riippell's fennec was originally 

 obtained from the Nubian deserts, but either this or a closely -allied species occurs 

 in Syria and parts of Persia, as well as in Afghanistan, 



The last and smallest representative of the genus Canis is the 

 ''pretty little North African fennec (C. zerda}, in which the total 

 length of the head and body is only just over 15 J inches, the tail measuring 6f 

 inches, and the ears being at least 3 inches in length, and sometimes even more. 

 The ears, being wide in proportion to their length, are of enormous size compared 

 to the head, and thus communicate a remarkable physiognomy to the animal. The 

 general colour of the fur of the upper-parts of the fennec varies from a pale fawn 

 to buff, the under-parts being white, and the tip of the tail black ; while there may 

 be black markings on the upper part of the latter near its root. On the forehead 

 and round the eyes the fur is nearly white ; while the outer surfaces of the ears 

 are rufous, and their inner margins have some long and nearly white hairs. 

 Sometimes there is a black mark in the middle of the hinder-part of the back. 



