Horváth Géza (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 23. (Budapest 1926)
Ognev, S. I.: A systematic review of the mammals of Russia
wrongly taken for it the grey fox, which is under discussion now (V. v. var. caucasica DINNICK), as well as other species, as for instance the Vulpes Alpherakyi". Indeed, the real karagan, common in the Kirgheez and Turkestan half-deserts, does not exist in the Caucasus, but in the Transcaucasian region one meets with foxes, representing forms very closely related the karagan ; in any case, more akin to it, than to the common fox. Concerning the mountainous foxes of the Daghestan, RADDE in his articles emphasies their special proximity to the karagan. And he is right. I have seen a skin of a fox of the mountainous Daghestan (Goonib district), belonging to the collection of A. N. FOEMOSOV. As to the unusual paleness of its dusky-darkish-yellow-grey colouring, its dusky greyyellow T tail, pale colouring of paws (almost deprived of any black pattern) and whitish colouring of belly, this fox is very similar to the karagan. The mountaineers told FOEMOSOV, that the local foxes are mostly of such a colouring. It is possible, that the Goonib foxes represent there a predominating dusky-grey-yellowish type of colouring of the V. v. alticola, as for instance on the hilly slopes of Karsk there are living pale, but brighter coloured V. v. hurdistanica. To form an exact opinion of the taxonomical position of the Daghestan fox may become possible only when sufficient material is gathered. Summing up these data, we come to the conclusion, that in the boundaries of the Transcaucasus one meets with the following sub-species of foxes : 1. V. v. alticola OGN. (mountains of central Transcaucasus) ; 2. V. v. hurdistanica SATUN, (mountain-ranges of Karsk) ; 3. V. v. Alpherakyi SATUN, (plains of the eastern Transcaucasus), and besides, special sub-species dwell probably in the mountains of the Southern Daghestan and the mountain ranges of Talish. Thus, at presents, all over the Caucasus (including the steppes of the Cis-Caucasus not less than five sub-species of foxes are known and probably their minimum amounts to 8—9 forms, including all the provisorily mentioned, but not named. Geographical distribution. — The V. v. alticola is evidently to be met with in the groups of mountains of Kartalin, Trianet, Souram, Somkhet, Lamback, Goktcha and Karabakh. In the eastern parts of the Transcaucasus the grey deviations of the V. v. alticola predominate and the melanistic forms are frequent. I have seen such specimens (besides those procured in the premises of Helenovka, near Goktcha) coming from Borjom (coll. of the Zool. Museum of the Academy of Sciences). It would be interesting to find out,.
