924 CORSAC DOG-FOX. 
half the length, and the snout prolonged to a point, 
indicating an approach to viverrine forms. The Cor- 
sac and Isatis of Buffon, Cynalopex corsac, Nobis, 
appear to form the connecting link between the diur- 
nal dogs and the foxes, but to be very distinct from 
the arctic fox, or Lagopus, by the superior height of 
their legs, the large ears, and shorter fur. We have 
compared them repeatedly, and cannot account for 
the mistake otherwise, than by supposing that the 
older specimens in Museums have been misnamed, 
and when the Indian designations were superadded 
to those of the north, the confusion being already 
established was suffered to remain unrectified. 
The species is little more than one foot nine inches 
in length, from nose to tail; the tail about eleven 
inches ; the ears, two inches; and the height at 
the shoulder nearly twelve inches. The form of 
the head is sharp, the ears open, pointed. The 
colours of the upper parts of the body yellowish- 
grey, uniformly spread, and resulting from the 
visible part of the hairs being annulated ochry and 
white, with only a few pointed black ; the limbs 
deeper buff; and the tail of the same colour, with 
a black tip and a blackish spot a short distance 
down the base: all the inferior parts are yellowish- 
white. The species lives in large communities, 
burrows, prowls in packs, feeds upon birds and 
birds’ eggs, conceals superabundant food, utters a 
kind of barking, and is possessed of a very offensive 
odour. The Corsac resides chiefly in the great 
deserts of Tartary, between the rivers Jaick, Emba, 
