150 CA>'ID^. 



food ; horizontal when running ; and raised almost erect when making a 

 sudden turn. 



This fox is found throughout India, rare in the forest countries, very 

 abundant in open country. At night it often, comes into cantonments 

 and gardens, but does not appear to molest poultry in general. Mr. Elliot 

 says : " Its priucipal food is rats, landcrabs, grasshoppers, beetles, &c., &c. 

 On one occasion a half-deroured mango was found in the stomach. It 

 always burrows in the open plains, runs with great speed, doubling like a 

 hare ; but instead of stretching out at first like that animal, and trusting 

 to its turns as a last resource, the fox turns more at first, and if it can 

 fatigue the dogs, it then goes straight away. " 



The burrow which this fox makes has always several openings converg- 

 ing towards the centre, some of them blind, others leading towards a larger 

 central one where the aniaial breeds. This is often two or three feet 

 below the surface. The burrow is usually situated qxiite in the open plain, 

 now and then in some thorny scrub. In alluvial plains, the fox takes 

 advantage of any small rise in the ground, to prevent its den being flooded 

 in the raius : and its burrow is frequently found on bunds of tanks and 

 other artificial mounds. I have on two occasions run foxes to holes in 

 old trees, which, from the marks round one of them, had evidently been 

 occupied by the animal for long. 



Lizards are a favorite food with the fox, as well as rats, crabs, and 

 various insects, white ants, &c., and it habitually eats melons, ber fruit, 

 and others; now and then pods and shoots of Gicer arietimim, and other 

 herbs. I have seen it hunting quail, and it doubtless occasionally kills 

 young birds, and eats eggs. 



Foxes couple according to locality from November to January, and the 

 female brings forth almost always fom- cubs from February to April. At 

 this season the female is rarely to be met with after sunrise, and the cubs 

 are very seldom seen outside their earth till nearly fully grown. 



This fox is much coursed with greyhounds in many parts of India, and 

 with Arab or country dogs, or half-bred English dogs, it gives a most 

 excellent course, doubling in a most dexterous manner, and if it is within 

 a shoi-t distance of its earth racing the dogs. With good English dogs it 

 stands little chance. Its niimerous earths prevent in general mxich sport 

 being had in hunting it with foxhounds, and its scent is poor. 



If taken young, this fox is easily tamed, and it shows a very playful 

 and frolicsome disposition ; but it is very generally asserted that tame 



