1887.] NOMENCLATURE OF INDIAN MAMMALS. 635 



ichneumon /3 of Sclireber, at least that was the first reference, that 

 Schreber's figures were taken from BaflFon, and that one of them 

 may have been the species known as H.fasciatus, whilst the other, 

 though probably meant for the Indian Mungoose, is not good enough 

 for recognition. No doubt, too, under Schreber's name and references 

 several distinct species were confounded, oneof tliese, as I have shown 

 elsewhere, being the small H. auropunctatus v. persicus. But 

 Schreber's Viverra ichneumon j^ was founded on that of Linnaeus, 

 and I have shown that the latter rests much on Kaempftr, though 

 other references are given, all relating more or less clearly to forms 

 of Mungoose. 



The conclusions to which I have come may therefore be briefly 

 stated thus. The Viverra mungo of Gmelin comprised several 

 species, of which the most important were Crossarchus fasciatus and 

 the Indian Mungoose. Probably Herpestes javanicus was also 

 included. Now in Geoffroy's paper C. fasciatus and H. javanicus 

 were distinguished, leaving the Indian Mungoose in H. mungo, which 

 is, I think, the proper name for the animal. If, however, the specific 

 term be rejected as being barbarous, or as having been applied 

 originally to a confused admixture of different species, the name 

 next ill priority is H.frederici. 



VIII. On the Scientific Name of the Common Fox, and on the 

 Classification of Allied Forms. 



The common European Fox is usually designated either Canis 

 vulpes or Vulpes vulgaris. The first name is the true Linnsean title, 

 but if, in accordance with the views expressed by Prof. Huxley', the 

 Foxes are separated generically from the Dogs, the question arises as to 

 whether the specific name vulgaris is rightly applicable. This term 

 is derived from Brisson, whose specific names are not admissible, 

 though by the British Association rules his generic terms for birds 

 are, when they are additions to those employed by Linnaeus. The 

 generic name Vulpes, which was employed by Brisson, is therefore 

 available, if the same rule be applied to mammals as to birds, but 

 the specific term vulgaris has no authority. 



All later writers, however, refer tvro Linnsean species, Canis vulpes 

 and Canis alopex, to the Common Fox. The two are distinguished, 

 according to Linnaeus, by the former having the tip of the fail white, 

 the latter black. C. alopex is said to inhabit Europe and Asia, and 

 appears to be merely an accidental or even an individual variety, the 

 Fox with the characteristically black-tipped tail, C. corsac, having 

 been known to Linnaeus and named by him. The term alopex is 

 derived from Aristotle's name fir the Fox. It appears therefore 

 that the correct name for the Common Fox, if the genus Vulpes be 

 admitted, is Vulpes alopex (L.). 



There is a curious gradation in size amongst the Foxes allied to 

 V. alopex, the European form exceeding all the others in stature. 

 V.flavescens from Central Asia comes next, and then the Himalayan 



' P. Z. S. 1880, p. 286. 



