OCR Text |
Show 1899.] rnE CANID.E O F AFRICA. 537 C. variegatus-the artist having probably worked up the picture with skins of the true G. anthus from Barbary. The skull of the North-African Jackal is readily distinguishable from that of the Indian Jackal, C. aureus, by its greater size, and more particularly by the longer parallel-sided snout, and the high forehead more abruptly rising from the line of the nasals, the more evenly expanding-not bowed-zygomata, and the heavier dentition. But the larger Egyptian race very closely resembles the Indian Wolf, 0. pallipes Sykes, the skulls of these two being practically the same size and shape, although the teeth of the Indian Wolf are much heavier. These different races therefore bridge over any marked distinction between the Wolves and Jackals. Measurements (in millim.) of the upper flesh-tooth pm. 4 are given of the smallest and largest of each species which has come under my notice :- C. aureus. C. anthus. C. pallipes. 15*5-17 17*5-20 21-22 Dr. Mivart has caused much confusion by including C. pallipes in his description of C. lupus, the figure given of C. lupus var. pallipes being that of the form of the true Wolf found in Northern India. C. pallipes, as described by Sykes, P. Z. S. 1831, p. 101, is particularly stated to be the Wolf of Deccan, so this name can only apply to the well-known Wolf of the Peninsula, which is not greatly superior in size to the Egyptian Wolf. In Dr. Blanford's ' Fauna of British India' the two Indian species are fully and accurately described. [P.S.-Since these notes were read I have seen specimens of Jackals said to come from Senegal and the interior of Tunisia, which seem to me to agree rather closely with Cuvier's description and figure of Canis anthus, and it is therefore possible that the large North-African Jackal which has been unanimously called C. anthus is bearing a wrong name, and should be called C. lupaster, while, of course, this much smaller, fine-legged, sharp-nosed, and paler-coloured animal is the true G. anthus. One specimen lately acquired from the Antwerp Zoological Gardens, and living in our Gardens in Eegent's Park, is said to have been brought direct from Senegal; other specimens referred to are a male and female with cubs, beautifully set up as a group in the Leyden Museum. Dr. Jentink informs me that there can be no doubt as to the locality of these specimens, as they were collected in Tunisia by a well-known contributor to the museum.] CANIS VARIEGATUS. (Fig. 3.) Sea-Fox, Salt, Voy. Abyss, p. 172, App. iv. p. 40 (1814). Canis variegatus, Cretzschm. Kiipp. Atlas, p. 31, pl. 10 (1826). Canis riparius, Hempr. & Ehrenb. Symb. Phys.,Mamm. ii. (1830). ? Canis sacer, id. ibid. |