SMALL DESERT FOXES 
Several other foxes inhabit the Old World, but none calls 
for particular mention. The arid highlands of southwestern 
Asia have two or three small, pale, mice-catching species, of 
which the best known is the corsac. Another small and pretty 
kind of fox is common throughout India, and, since it runs 
freely and doubles like a hare, affords some sport by coursing 
it with an inferior breed of greyhounds, for first-rate 
hounds would overtake it too quickly to make the chase 
interesting. More attractive, however, are the exquisite little 
fennec foxes, four species of which dwell in the African deserts. 
The one best known, the fennec proper of the Sahara and 
eastward, is the smallest of the Canide, the head and body 
measuring only fifteen or sixteen inches, and the tail six and 
three-fourths inches, while the sharp-nosed, big-eyed, ‘“ cute” 
little face is surmounted by immense ears, each larger than the 
whole countenance. These great ears are associated, as is the 
general rule, with the excessive inflation of the “bulla,” or ear 
cavity, which gives such peculiar and picturesque breadth to a 
fox’s face; and both structures indicate extraordinary powers of 
hearing. The general cream-color of the fur harmonizes the 
animal protectively with the sands, but the throat, cheeks, eye- 
lids, and furry borders of the tall, pointed ears are pure white. 
These delicate and gracefully pretty little creatures are true 
desert dwellers, existing in the sandiest wastes as well as about 
the oases, and making deep burrows, sometimes in large colo- 
nies, and dug with amazing quickness, in which they spend the 
heat of the day, and whence they steal forth at night to hunt in 
packs after the jerboas, spiny mice, lizards, and other small prey 
upon which they subsist. ‘‘The inside of the burrow is lined 
with feathers, hair, and soft vegetable substances, and is re- 
markable for its cleanliness.” They seem capable of going 
long periods without water, yet drink eagerly when they find 
a pool. All feed much in the proper season on dates and 
other fruit; and it is quite possible that the poet of the ‘Song 
P 209 
Fennec. 
