ORDER CARNASSIER. 371 



very rough and ragged during the process of changing its 

 colour, and until near its conclusion. When the change is 

 completed the colour is uniform. In winter it is of a pure 

 white. In summer a dorsal line of a darker colour is ob- 

 servable, with transverse stripes upon the shoulders, from 

 which peculiarities it has been occasionally confounded 

 with the Cross-Fox. The paws are entirely covered with 

 long hairs, and those on the other parts of the body are 

 about two inches in length. 



It is with some hesitation, however, that we place Cap- 

 tain Ross's Fox under the Lagopus. In general make and 

 appearance it approaches more to the Common than to the 

 Arctic species ; but in colours and their change, it assi- 

 milates to the latter. 



There is also a Variable Fox, an inhabitant of the Arctic 

 regions, which has the tips of the ears and tail black, like 

 those of the Variable Hare. 



The Cape Fox (Cards Mesomelas) is distinguished from 

 the others by a more pointed muzzle, a long bushy tail, 

 and elliptical pupils. It is usually been called the Cape 

 Chacal, but the characters we have instanced constitute it a 

 Fox, on the authority of our author. M. Desmarest, how- 

 ever, places it amongst the Caninas with circular pupils. It 

 is about the size of a small Dog. These animals are found 

 at the Cape of Good Hope, and are represented to have the 

 manners and habits of the Chacal. 



We shall simply refer to the table for several other Foxes 

 that have been named by writers, without attempting, for 

 want of data, to determine their respective claims to a dis- 

 tinct classification. Much difficulty indeed exists on this 

 subject, from the changes which many of these animals un- 

 dergo in colour at different seasons. 



Major Smith's drawings include a great many indivi- 

 duals, particularly of the transatlantic species, some of 

 which, from their dissimilarity to described species, may 

 probably be entitled to a specific separation. 



