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THE FENNEC. 



of the bare, branchless stem. Yet the Fennec is said to possess the capability of 

 climbing the trunk of the date-palm, and of procuring for itself the coveted luxury. 



This creature presents so strange a medley of characteristics that it has proved a 

 sad stumbling-block to systematic zoologists, and has been so frequently transferred by 

 them from one portion of the animal kingdom to another, that its position in their 

 catalogues seems to vary as often as the different lists are published. One celebrated 

 naturalist considers the Fennec to belong to the civets and genetts ; another ranks it 

 with the hyenas; while a third believes that its true position is among the Galagos. 

 Now, however, it finds a resting-place in the genus Vulpes, being a congener with the 

 various foxes of the Old and New Wprlds. 



It must here be remembered that the generic distinction of dogs and foxes can 

 hardly be regarded as a settled matter, and that many practical naturalists favor the 

 opinion that the foxes ought to be included in the genus " Canis." That the dog and 

 the fox will produce a mixed offspring is now generally allowed. There are many 

 authenticated accounts of such mixed breeds, dating from the earlier part of the present 

 century up to the present time. Moreover, it has been found that the offspring of the 

 dog and the fox is capable of reproduction when it is again crossed with the dog. 

 Should this experiment be successfully conducted to a still farther extent, and the 

 vulpo-canine offspring of both sexes be found capable of mutual reproduction, the 

 difficult question to which we have referred will be finally solved. 



Like the veritable foxes, the Fennec is accustomed to dwell in subterranean abodes, 

 which it scoops in the light sandy soil of its native land. Bruce, who claims the honor 

 of introducing this curious little animal to zoological science, avers that it builds its 

 nest in trees. Riippell, however, who may lay claim to more scientific knowledge than 

 was possessed by Bruce, distinctly contradicts this statement, and asserts that it lives 

 in " burrows" like other foxes. 



This curious little animal is not entirely without its use to man ; for its fur is of con- 

 siderable value among the native tribes of the locality wherein it is found. The skin 

 of the Fennec, called " motlose" in the native dialect, is said to furnish the warmest 

 fur in Africa, and is highly prized for that quality. And as, on account of the dim- 

 inutive size of the animal, a single skin forms but a very small portion of a garment, a 

 mantle which is composed of " motlose " fur is valued very highly, and can with 

 difficulty be purchased from its dark owner. 



As is the case with the greater number of predaceous animals, the Fennec is but 

 seldom seen during the daytime, preferring to issue forth upon its marauding expeditions 

 under the friendly cover of night. Even when it has spent some time in captivity, it 

 retains its restless nocturnal demeanor, and during the hours of daylight passes the 

 greater portion of its time in semi-somnolence or in actual sleep. On a comparison 

 with the Otocyon, the Fennec appears at first sight to bear so close a resemblance to 

 that animal that either of the two creatures might easily be mistaken for the other. 

 The slender body, the bushy tail, the sharply-pointed snout, and the extraordinarily long 

 ears, are so conspicuously notable that the two animals have frequently been confounded 

 together, and actually figured under the same title. Yet, as has been already mentioned, 

 when treating of the Otocyon, the distinguishing characteristics are so strongly marked 

 as to justify their separation, not only into different species, but into different 

 genera. 



It is a quaint little creature in its aspect, and wears an air of precocious self-reliance 

 that has quite a ludicrous effect in so small an animal. The color of its eyes is a 

 beautiful blue, and the " whisker" hairs which decorate its face are long and thick in 

 their texture, and white in their color. The honor of introducing the Fennec into 

 Europe is claimed by two persons ; the one being Bruce, the celebrated traveller, and 

 the other being a Swedish gentleman of the name of Skioldebrand. The latter writer was 

 certainly the first person who publicly brought the Fennec before the zoologists of Europe, 

 but is supposed to have succeeded in his ambition by means which were hardly just or 

 honorable. 



The Fennec is identical with the fox-like animal that is named " Zerda " by Riippell, 

 and " Cerdo " by Illiger. 



