Pongrácz Sándor (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 31. (Budapest 1938)

Éhik, Gy.: Sakál vagy nádifarkas hazánkból

differs with a smaller size from the common wolf. This species was named by MOJSISOVICS Canis lupus minor in contrary to Canis lupus. The reed-wolf can not be a subspecies of Canis lupus, because the latter was allways occuring (and also bearing!) in the Great Hungarian Plains and two subspecies can not live at the same time on the same territory. Therefore already HILZHEIMER suspected, that the reed-wolf is identic with the jackal. Fortunately we have an old authentic picture from the hungarian reed-wolf, from its hunting; on this picture one can recognize the jackal, because the painted animal has a rather small size and a shorter, at tip abruptly rounded, almost truncately tail. According to the remained data has the reed-wolf a weight of 12—25 kg, vhile the common wolf weighs 30—40 kg. This little weight of the reed-wolf refers also to the jackal. The subspecies character of the reed-wolf, as a jackal could never be recognized from the description of M. MOJSISOVICS; only the fact is evident therefrom that he may have seen the skin of a jackal. But MOJSISOVICS was not even certain whether the described skin bare the characteristics of a jackal, for he deemed it wise to name it Canis lupus minor. Should we strictly adhere to the rules of nomenclature perhaps this animal could be named C. aureus minor Mojs., albeit dignosis of no kind is attached to this name. Regardless of this material requirement, there are cases, wherein the strict application of the rules of nomenclature deply hurts our way of logical thinking and appeares to be ridiculous. I could not apply the name „minor" also for the reason that this previous name is by chance just the contrast to the diagnosis; the animal in question may be named „major", but by no means „minor". Formerly, as the immeasurable great reed-plots were existing, the jackal or reed-wolf was in Hungary very frequent; in the present it became very seldom. The shooted specimens are regularly regarded as roving wolf-dogs, respectively German shepherddogs, therefore gets a jackal so seldom into scientific instituts.