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, 
Hoary Fox. 
LoNG-EARED Foxes (Canis chama, zerda, ete.). 
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 fennees. 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 
Pale Fox. 
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 fennee (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 95 inches; while the ears measure just over 3 inches in length. This fox has 
Riippell’s Fennec. 
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 fennee 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 fennee (C. zerda), in which the total 
length of the head and body is only just over 154 inches, the tail measuring 63 
inches, and the ears being at least 3 inches in length, and sometimes even more. 
Common Fennec. 
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 fennee 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. 
