The Common Red Fox, 217 



difficult to take him in a trap of any kind." * It is however practicable to 

 take the most wary fox in a steel trap, provided it be carefully concealed." 



The period of " gestation continues from 60 to 65 days. The cubs are 

 from 5 to 9 in number, and like young puppies are born with hair, and are 

 blind at birth. They leave their burrows generally when three or four 

 months old, and in all predatory expeditions, each individual goes singly and 

 plunders on his own account and for his own special benefit. 



" The generic name is derived from the Latin word Vulpes, a Fox. 



" There are about twelve well known species belonging to the genus — 

 five of which exist in North America." f 



The North American species are the following : — 



1. The Red Fox, [Vulpes fulvus,) of which the Black Fox, Silver Grey 

 Fox, and Cross Fox, are considered varieties. Common in all the British 

 Territories of North America. 



2. The Arctic Fox, ( Vulpes lagopus,) inhabits the Arctic Regions, 

 Hudson's Bay, Labrador, and Siberia. They do not range so far south as 

 Canada. 



3. The Grey Fox, {Vulpes Virginianus,) inhabits the Southern States, 

 where it is abundant. It is doubtful whether this fox has ever been seen so 

 far north as Canada. 



4. The Swift Fox or Kit Fox, {Vulpes velox,) is a small animal similar 

 to the Red Fox, but only one half of the size. Inhabits the prairies east of 

 the Rocky Mountahis and the plains of the Columbia River. 



5. The Jackall Fox, ( Vulpes Utah,) is larger than the Red Fox, with 

 a black throat and belly, and greyish brown above. Inhabits the Rocky 

 Mountains, and probably ranges in the British Territories. 



Of all these, the Red Fox is the most widely distributed throughout 

 North America, and may therefore be considered as the reigning race among 

 the Foxes of this continent. The following is the systematic description 

 given by the eminent naturalists from whose works we have quoted : — • 



Vulpes fulvus, (Desm.) The American Red Fox. 



Specific ChapvACtees. — " Fur reddish or fulvous ; beneath the neck 



and belly white ; chest grey ; front part of the fore legs and 



feet, black ; toes fulvous ; tip of the tail, white.^^ {Fulvus,) 



Latin, of a yellow or reddish colour. 



" This animal bears so strong a resemblance to the European Fox, ( Vulpes 



vulgaris,) that it was regarded as the same species by early naturalists. 



No one, however, who will compare specimens from both countries, can havo 



tt doubt of their being very distinct. Our Red Fox is a little the largest, its 



legs are less robust, its nose shorter and more pointed, the eyes nearer 



together, its feet and toes more thickly clothed with fur, its ears shorter, it 



has a finer and larger brush, and its fur is much softer, finer, and of a brighter 



colour. 



* Audubon & Bachman, vol. 1, pages 44 and 45. 

 f Idem, page 45. 



