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

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

deserts and has assimilated their dusky colouring. Closely related is the V. v. diluta OGN., which represents an indubitable transition from the central Russian fox to the karagan. Further, closely related to the karagan is the V. v. alticola OGN., but it is distinguishable by the peculiarities of its colouring, by its more luxurious and better fur. As was already observed and in due time mentioned by RADDE, the karagan is especially closely related to the mountainous Daghestan fox, dusky and pale. Geographical distribution. — The lack of data, based on facts, compells me to withhold from giving any whatever detailed characteristics of the region of distribution of the karagan. It is probable, that it is the same form, that inhabits the Kirgheez and Kalmick half-deserts of the gvt. of Astrakhan and the region of the Ural. I am inclined to class the specimen of a fox (collect, of the Zool. Museum of the Acad, of Sciences), procured by MARTLNO in the north mountains of the Mugodjar of the region of the Ural with the karagan. Further, I am inclined to think, that the karagan inhabits the up-land of the Oust-ourt, a great part of the region of Sirr-Dariinsk and a considerable part of the regions of Tourgan, Akmolinsk and Semipalatinsk. How far north the karagan is spread, is not yet established, as much as its exact distribution in the region of Semiretchie is not yet known. 1 suppose, that the fox described here is common in the northern part of this country (the sands of Sari-lshik-Otrau and the plain of the district of Lipsinsk). New data are necessary for defining the exact boundaries of this form in the East. It is worth noticing, that the curious fox, procured by P. K. KOSLOV, 18. XII. 1907, near Kiakhta (Oust-Kiran), is undistinguishable by its colouring from the light karagan of the district of Tashkent. In the collection of the Zoological Museum of the University of Moscow there is a quite similar specimen from the steppes of the southern Transbaikalia (given by SCHILLINGER). It is quite possible, that a detailed investigation of a greater quantity of material will permit to establish a special form of a southern Transbaikalian and north Mongolian karagan. At the present it is a domain of possible hypothesis. In the mountains of Fergana, Bukharia and Pamir we meet, as we shall see, special forms of the karagan. It is common in the Transcaspian region, according to data of SARUDNY, RADDE and SATUNIN. However it remains unknown, how far North extends the distribution of the karagan. According to the craniological material I possess, I am inclined to regard the foxes of the southern part of Transcaspia (Askhabad district, Repetek), as belonging