590 Asiatic Society. [No. 126. 



tanus would accordingly appear to be subject to considerable variation in shade of 

 colour, like the allied V. fulvus of North America. In connexion with this sub- 

 ject, I may further remark, that Lieut. Irwin mentions " black fox" skins, together 

 with those of the " common brown fox," as among the " commodities sent from Inde- 

 pendent Toorkistan to the marts of Chinese Toorkistan.* " The Fox of Toorkistan," 

 he observes, " and generally of the cold and temperate countries, has all the cunning of 

 the English, unlike the puny Fox of India" ; the former probably referring to the 

 common Himalayan species, rather than to the Tibet Fox (V. ferrulatus) of Mr. 

 Hodgson; though regarding the cunning of those of Kemaon, Dr. McClelland 

 writes — " They are somewhat larger than the English Fox, and are very easily caught 

 in traps," whereas the Jackal there, which is much larger than the Jackal of the 

 plains, is remarkably shy and cautious, so much so as never to allow itself to be caught 

 in a trap."f 



In Afghanistan, according to Dr. Griffith, " a large and a small species of Fox appear 

 to exist. The former, which is perhaps identical with the large Himalayan Fox, 

 I procured from Quetta and at Olipore, at which place it is not uncommon. J The 

 small kind seems to resemble the Fox of the plains of N. W. India." 



Of the latter, or more exclusively those of the great Western Hurriana desert, the 

 Hon. Mouhtstuart Elphinstone remarks, that these are " less than our [the English ?] 

 Fox, but somewhat larger than the common one of India: their backs are of the same 

 brownish colour with the latter; but in one part of the desert, their legs and belly 

 up to a certain height, are black, and in another, white. The line between those 

 colours and the brown is so distinctly marked, that the one kind seems as if it had 

 been wading up to the belly in ink, and the other in white-wash." Account of Cabul, 

 &c. p. 7. Specimens of the animals here indicated would be highly acceptable to 

 zoologists. 



I have been informed that a species more nearly resembling the English Fox than 

 the small Corsac of the plains inhabits the Neilghierries ; but no such animal is 

 noticed in Mr. Elliot's catalogue. 



In Proc. Zool. Soc. for 1837, p. 68, it is mentioned that "a new species of Fox, 

 nearly allied to Vulpes Bengalensis, but evidently larger, Mr. Gray designated as Vul- 

 pes xanthura" but no description is there published, nor habitat assigned, though this 

 notice follows some descriptions of Indian animals. Naturalists, therefore, are not bound 

 to trouble themselves about the priority of the name, should they chance to meet with 

 the animal here alluded to. It cannot, surely, be the " Fulvous-tailed Dog (Cants 

 chrysurus, Gray)," a description of which is published in Mag. Nat. Hist. N. S. 

 I, 157, and which is stated to inhabit India. I subjoin reasons, however, for suspect- 

 ing that it is the same, and here indicate the animal as one regarding which further 

 information would be acceptable. § 



* Red, grey, brown, and black Foxes are stated to have been formerly very numerous in the 

 Aleutian Isles, whence the name of " Fox Islands" applied to this group, or rather chain. Does 

 the American species extend across to Asia like the Rein Deer, Argali (?), &c. ? 



t Captain Hutton remarks, of the Jackals of Simla, that " they do not appear to hunt in packs 

 as they do in the plains, but are seen singly." J. A. S., VI, 934. Is it certain that they are of the 

 same species ? 



J For further particulars concerning V. montanus, vide J. A. S., VI, 934. 



§ " Fur pale, foxy, varied with black-tipped rigid white hairs, which are most abundant on 

 the sides, and only scattered on the hinder part of the back. Under fur soft, silky ; of the back 



