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Show 534 MR. W. E. DE WINTON ON [Apt*. 18, put to the test. A Jackal may have a sharp bark, as G. aduslus (called "Quaha"by the Caffirs, from its cry), and the ears of a Jackal may be longer than those of the Common Pox, as in G. variegatus and C. mesomelas. It is impossible to follow Gray (P. Z. S. 1868, pp. 492-525), who gave no anatomical or practical reasons for his arrangement and subdivision of tbe genus, but the Jackals and Poxes as they are usually classed form very natural and convenient groups or subgenera. The skull of a Pox is very much less powerful than that of a Jackal; the suborbital parts of the zygomata are more expanded and the inner surfaces of these bones are turned upwards. The small Poxes I shall group together under the name of Sand-Poxes, keeping the Pennec to form a separate subgroup by itself. On looking at a number of skins of Dogs, one is struck with the constancy of the general pattern of the markings. Thus all the Jackals are inclined to a saddle-mark ; this reaches perfection in C. mesomelas, while in C. anthus there is no defined line, though the fur is longer and thicker within the same limits. But the tendency to have a black spot on the dorsal surface of the tail, about two inches from the root, is a character which runs through the whole genus, Jackals and Foxes alike. This spot is no doubt due to a gland, for the hair of this region is more rigid than elsewhere, and there is no underfur growing upon it ; the stiff hairs are generally shorter than those of the surrounding part of the tail and lie rather flat, forming a depression in the fur ; and in many instances, in the dried skin, a yelloAv substance is found to clog the hair, which has a distinctly aromatic smell. I have to record m y best thanks to Dr. J. Anderson, F.R.S., Mr. E. J. Cuninghame, Major Harrison, D.S.O., and Mr. P. J. Jackson, C.B., who have helped me with specimens of Jackals, also to Colouel Lugard, C.B., for the loan of a specimen of the Hunting-Dog from British East Africa. Genus 1. CANIS. C A N I S SIMENSIS. (Fig. 1.) Canis simensis, Eiipp. Neue Wirbelth. Abyss, p. 39, pl. 14 (1838) ; Mivart, Canida?, p. 18, plate, skull fig. 18. Skull of Canis simensis, J nat. size. (B.M. 42.8.15.11; 162 a.) |