58 ZOOLOGY. 



shuns prairie as a rule, so that there are extensive regions where it may 

 never be seen, although occurring on either side. From Virginia southward 

 is the characteristic species, and abundant ; it occurs in Texas, California, 

 and Oregon. 



Sharing vulpine traits with its kind, the Gray Fox has, nevertheless, 

 its peculiarities. It is not a burrowing animal, at least to any great extent ; 

 and, when it digs, the burrow is simple, with a single entrance. It lies con- 

 cealed in rank herbage, beneath or inside fallen logs, under partially- 

 excavated stumps, and similar retreats. This habit is in evident correlation 

 with its woodland range ; for having no such protection as the Red Fox, 

 which takes to the earth anywhere, it is forced to abide where there are 

 the natural means of concealment just mentioned. This same habit, more- 

 over, causes a certain modification of the animal's range with the settling of 

 a country. In clearing off forests, the Gray Fox is forced to seek elsewhere ; 

 although, in effect, the circumstances that cause removal of one species are 

 precisely those that invite the other, the Red Fox being able to exist in 

 settled regions where the other could find no suitable resorts. It is this that 

 makes the Red a greater nuisance to the farmer ; it sticks closer to the farm- 

 yard, being forced in a measure to thus supply itself, owing simply to its 

 being in more cultivated districts. The Gray Fox subsists more extensively 

 upon the wild game of his habitat. Another distinctive trait is the climbing- 

 powers of the Gray Fox ; much greater than would be expected from an 

 animal with non-retractile claws and no great "hugging" powers. When 

 hard-pressed, the Gray Fox is treed, as regularly as the Red is earthed. 

 The climbing seems to be chiefly an agile leaping along an inclined trunk, 

 or from bough to bough ; though it has been noted that the animal can 

 climb small trunks by clasping, or even with its claws, like a cat or raccoon. 



According to our observations, this is to be considered the characteristic 

 fox of Arizona, where it is much more abundant than the Red. 



