24 SECOND YA11KAND MISSION. 
In the plate, the upper figure represents the darker variety of V. flavescens, the l° weV 
the more rufous and typical form. 
A specimen of a fox from Ydrkand presented by Captain Biddulph to Mr. Hume, * 
has added it to the collection, looks at first sight as if it must he a different species. The h» 
is much shorter and thinner than in the other foxes, and that on the tail is so deficient, W 
there is nothing approaching a brush, and the tail resembles that of a domestic dog. This roW 
be due to accident or ill condition, hut the hair on the body, though not long, looks perfect 
healthy. There is no woolly under-fur, and the hair is rather harsh. On the whole, I thu> 
this skin may be that of an animal which has just lost its long winter coat. That the 1° 
of the long fur greatly alters the colour of foxes is a well-known fact. 
The following is a description of this skin. All the middle of the back, from the nH 
to the insertion of the tail, is blackish-brown; sides of the body isabelline, many of the hairs 
the posterior part of the flanks having very long black tips, so that the blackish back appe 
broader on the loins than behind the shoulders; the hairs are dusky at the base on the ion 
whitish near the shoulders ; head rufous above, with scattered white tips to some o 
hairs ; upper lip whitish, as are the chin, throat and lower parts generally ; whiskers blac 
ears black externally except close to the head, with rather long whitish hair near the mar 0 
inside. External surface of shoulders and thighs rufous, with a few white and black M 
mixed. Anterior portion of the whole fore-leg and foot, and of the tarsus and hind-W ^ 
black, slightly grizzled with white tips and becoming more mixed with rufous hairs abo 
but quite black along the edge of the whitish inner-surface of the limbs. Hairs beneath 
feet dusky -brown ; below the tarsus rufous brown ; tail dull rufous above, below whitish 11 ^ 
the base, becoming much mixed with black towards the tip, which is entirely white b° 
above and below ; the hair on the back is about 2\ inches long. 
The following measurements, except those of the skull and leg bones, are, of course, 0 
approximate, as they are taken on the skin : 
ft. inches, 
o Q 
Length of head and body 1 6 
Tail, including hair at end ...•••• 
Total length . 3 6 
3.5 
Length of ear from orifice . • • • ■ • • ‘ ' ' ' 
Length of skull from occipital plane to end of premaxillaries ..... 
Breadth of skull across widest part of zygomatic arches 
Length of tarsus and hind-foot to end of claws - 
Bore-foot and carpus to ditto ^ 
Since the above was written, I have seen a skin of a fox brought by Captain Bidd 
from Kashmir, apparently V. montana, with a similar colouration to the specimen a ^ 
described, except that the hack is dark rufous. This specimen, shot in August, has evu e j. 
its summer fur. In all these foxes the deep rufous cross-like mark, formed by the dark' ^ 
and the line across the shoulders, is conspicuously contrasted, in the summer vesture, wi 
pale sides of the animal, but disappears in the winter fur. 
