1899.] THE CAXID.E OF AFRICA. 539 



This form, described by Cretzschmar and fairly figured from a 

 specimen seut home by Eiippell, had doubt thrown upon it by the 

 collector himself in bis own work, NeueWirbelch. Abyss., Saug. p. 39 

 (1838). At the same time we are told that the skull had been lost, 

 and so comparison was not possible with that of (J. mesomelas, of 

 which species it was thought to be only a variety. Since that 

 time no one but Dr. Blanford (Geol. & Zoo). Abyss, p. 238) has 

 given the species a proper status. The name has been used by 

 some writers for the northern form of C. mesomelas ; Dr. Mivart 

 has confounded it with C. antlius. Dr. Noack has overlooked the 

 species when naming the Somaliland Jackal C. hagenhechi; but 

 since seeing examples of this latter form alive, and also having 

 examined about a dozen skins and skulls, I feel no doubt in identi- 

 fying the Somaliland animal with C. variegatus. 

 ' Tiie form described by Dr. Noack as a separate species, under 

 the name of C. mcngesi, appears to me to be simply a sandy-rufoiis 

 variety, wanting the broad black band in the fur of its back. The 

 dark marks in the front of the fore legs are very much less distinct 

 than in the typical form, but are not entireli/ luanting. 



As mentioned above, the specimens from the highlands of 

 Abyssinia, obtained by Dr. Blanford, are richer in colouring, and 

 owing to the longer and denser fur would appear stouter in build 

 (see op. cit.Tp.2W), but at the same time these specimens somewhat 

 approach 0. mesomelas in having heavier skulls ; so it may be just 

 possible that we have here a hybrid race confined to this high 

 plateau. 



Excepting in the narrowness of the frontal region and greater 

 length of the facial portion, the skull of C. variegatus is very like 

 that of 0. mesomelas, only differing in its general narrowness and 

 in the less expanded squamosal portion of the zygomata. 



Cawis mesomelas. (Fig. 4.) 



Canis mesomelas, Schreb. Saug. iii. p. 370, pi. 95 (1778) ; Mivart, 

 Canidai, p. 45, pi. (189U). 



Canis variegatoides, Smith (A.), S. Afr. Quart. Journ. 1833, p. 85. 



Thous mesomelas, Smith (H.), Jardine's Nat. Libr. ix. p. 199, pi. xii. 

 (1839). 



Vulpes mesomelas, Gray, P. Z. S. 1868, p. 516. 



Canis variegatus, Matschie, Saug. Deutsch-O.-Afr. p. 64 (1895). 



Canis mesomelas var. schmidti, Noack, Zool. Anz. no. 548, 1897, 

 p. 519. 



Face rufous, most of the hairs on the cheeks and forehead tipped 

 with whitish ; ears very large, bright rufous ; saddle very distinct, 

 all the hairs rufous at the base followed by a black ring, with a 

 broad subtermiual buff-white ring and tipped with black; the 

 flanks and legs bright rufous without intermixture or markings of 

 black. The tail is rather short, all the hairs tipped with black : 

 the spot over the gland well developed ; the stiff hairs are white 

 for the greater part of their length, with jet-black tips. This is 



