1869.] pR. E. HAMILTON ON A VARIETY OF THE COMMON FOX. 247 
The upper jaw, when cut away at the side (as shown in fig. 1, 
p- 246), exhibits a very rudimentary canine tooth of the adult series, 
and three molars, the middle being the flesh-tooth of the milk-series. 
The lower jaw shows three molars of the milk-series in a moderate 
state of development, and a cavity in which the large hinder molar 
is to be developed, but which is now in a very rudimentary state. 
The first tooth indicated on the edge of the jaw is the permanent 
canine, and the two other teeth are the anterior molars. 
I am not aware that the skull of the young animal of this genus 
has been figured; so I have had some drawings, to illustrate this 
paper, made by Mr. Ford. 
9. On a Variety of the Canis vulpes (Vulpes vulgaris, Brisson) 
found in the Forest of the Ardennes, Belgium. By Dr. 
Epwarp Hamitron, F.L.S. 
The Prince of Musignano, in his ‘ Fauna Italica,’ describes a variety 
of the Canis vulpes under the name of melanogaster, and claims 
specific characters, in that the colour of the fur on the throat, chest, 
and abdomen is black instead of whitish grey; the head and back 
dark greyish, and mixed with a quantity of silver hairs; the tail 
more bushy, and furnished with a white tip. Mr. Gerrard, in his 
‘Catalogue of Bones in the British Museum,’ places the Vulpes mela- 
nogaster as a distinct species. Dr. Gray, ‘‘Catalogue of the Canidee”’ 
(P. Z. S. 1868, p. 515), describes it as a variety only; Had. Italy. 
Linnzeus describes a variety, Canis alopex, with a straight tail black 
at the tip, and smaller than the Canis vulpes. Bufton’s Renard 
charbonnier, or Alopex europeus, is of a silver greyish colour, tail 
tipped with white; remarkable black feet and legs, which appear 
as if produced by charcoal-dust, hence its name; it is smaller than 
the common Fox. Hab. Burgundy. 
The variety which I bring before the notice of the Society was 
shot last autumn in the Forest of the Ardennes, near Rochefort, in 
Belgium. The hunters there know it under the name of “ Le Renard 
Noir.” It is comparatively rare ; about five or six are killed during 
the season. It is larger than the Common Fox, and a very active 
animal. Colour brownish grey, mixed with silver-grey hairs; deep 
brownish red stripe extending down the back, lighter towards the tail ; 
head, face, and neck brownish red, mixed with silver-grey ; throat, 
chest, and abdomen black, merging into blackish grey at the posterior 
part ; tail blackish brown on the upper part, blackish yellow beneath, 
the tip black ; fore legs blackish grey from shoulder to claws; hind 
legs, a blackish grey stripe running from the hip and becoming 
black at the feet. 
The skin measures from tip of nose to root of tail 3 feet; tail 
1 foot 6 inches. Approximate height at shoulders 1 foot 5—6 inches. 
In comparing the skin with the figure given by the Prince of 
Musignano (/. c.) there is a great similarity, with the exception of 
