Horváth Géza (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 23. (Budapest 1926)

Ognev, S. I.: A systematic review of the mammals of Russia

SATUNIN were of an opinion, that the mountainous grey fox is smaller in size, than the red fox of the plain. Basing myself on the valuable material I have of mountainous foxes of the Northern Caucasus, I cannot consider these animals as belonging to a small race. According to informations gathered from Caucasian hunters, the grey fox of the mountains is undoubtedly larger than that of the plains. The tradespeople of Alagir told me they consider the grey fox to be the largest and the strongest. It is worth noticing, that in the Trans-Caucasus also, as we shall see lower, the mountainous form is undoubtedly larger, than that of the plains. Geographical distribution. — The fox is vastly spread in the region of the steppes of the Cis-Caucasus and in the region of the Cis-Caspian half deserts, as well as in the region of the foot-hills and mountains. There is a great number of foxes in the low-lands of large rivers: Kouma, Terek, Soulak and Kooban. According to information gathered, the foxes are very numerous on the peninsula of Agrakhansk. The vertical distribution of the North-Caucasian fox is rather considerable and extends from the level of the sea to the height of approximative^ 8 or 9 thousand feet. These foxes are met with on the sub-alpine meadows near the river Kobi (6500'), Gudaur (7300'). DINNICK has observed foxes at the height of no less than 8000' in the Kooban district near Oshten and also on the mountain. Vulpes vulpes alticola OGNEV (1926). The mountainous trans-Caucasian fox. 1914. Vulpes alopex DINNICK, Mammals of the Caucasus, p. 442 etc. (partim). 1915. Vulpes vulpes SATUNIN, Mammals of the Caucasus I, p. 258 etc. (partim). 1926. Vulpes vulpes alticola OGNEV, Bullet. Scientifique de l'Inst. de l'Explorât. Régional du Caucase du Nord, I, p. 52. Type locality. — Vicinity of the lake Goktcha. Diagnosis. — Colouring of several types. One meets with forms with a very dark under-fur, broad, dark basal parts of the hair, paledirty-grey-rusty yellowish ends of hair and with a more or less strongly developed blackness of fur, especially on the neck and shoulders, on the tail and belly (with a tendency to the black brown type of colouring). Rather frequent are the pale-coloured foxes of a general grey-yellowish tone, resembling the karagans; some of them have the typical speckled rusty-brownish pattern on the back, as the Vulpes vulpes Alpherakyi. Lastly, one meets with the pale rusty yellow foxes (of a general tint of cinnamon-buff). The absence of intensively red-coloured foxes,