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Show 1899.] THE CANID.E OF AFRICA. 547 2 • Near Cairo, Mr. E. J. Cuninghaine. Head aud body 415 millim., tail 305, hind foot 97, ear 87; weight 2 lbs. 9 oz. 2 • Near Berbera, Dr. A. E. Atkinson. Head and body 445 millim., tail 345, hind foot 122, ear 100. The skulls of other specimens from Egypt show that the specimen was rather undersized, but there is no difference worth mentioning between Egyptian and Somaliland specimens. A little Fox from Afghanistan, as mentioned and figured by Dr. Mivart, appears to be identical with this species. The conspicuous brow*n marks on the face, the white tag to the tail, and the density of the fur are characters which could not possibly be excluded from any description ; therefore I feel convinced that Schinz did not form his C. ruppelli on this species. The legs also are very short, and not longer in proportion than those of C. zerda. CANIS DORSALIS. (Fig. 9.) Canis (Vulpes) dorsalis, Gray, P. Z. S. 1837, p. 132. Vulpes dorsalis, Gray, List Mamm. Brit. Mus. p. 62 (1843). Fennecus dorsalis, Gray, P. Z. S. 1868, p. 519. Vulpes edwardsi, Eochebr. Bull. Soc. Philom. Paris, 1SS2 (Oct.) p. 8. Fig. 9. Skull of Canis dorsalis, ? nat. size. (B.M. 40.12.20.3.) The type of Gray's species (from Senegal), which is still in the British Museum, is so much faded that it is impossible to give an accurate description of the skin; I can say, however, that it belongs neither to C. famelicus nor C. pallidus. The skull shows it to be very young animal in milk-dentition, probably larger than C. famelicus, but its black-tipped tail proves that it is not even a local race of that species. Its much greater size is sufficient to separate it from C. pallidus. This is without doubt the same species as that described by Eochebrune. Dr. Mivart does not give an opinion on this species, and even leaves the name out of his synonymy. |