218 The Common Red Fox, 



" It stands higher on its legs than the Grey Fox, [V. Virginianus,) and 

 its muzzle is not so long and acute as in that species. It is formed for 

 lightness and speed, and is more perfect in its proportions than any other 

 species in the genus with which we are acquainted. 



" The liair on the whole body is soft, silky, and lustrous ; the ears are 

 clothed with short hairs on both surfaces, and the feet and toes are so clothed 

 with hair that the nails are concealed. The body of this species has a strong 

 musky smell, far less disagreeable than that either of the skunk or mink. It 

 becomes less offensive in a state of domestication. 



Colour. — " Point of nose, outer extremity of ears, and outer surfaces 

 of legs below the knees, black ; forehead, neck, flanks, and back, bright 

 reddish, and a little deeper tint on the back and fore-shoulders ; around the 

 nostrils, margins of the upper jaw, and chin, pure white ; throat, breast, and 

 a narrow space on the under surface, dingy white ; extreme end of brush, 

 slightly tipped with white ; inner surface of ears, and base on the outer 

 surface, yellowish. The hair on the body is of two sorts ; long hairs 

 interspersed among a dense coat of softer, brighter, and more yellowish fur ; 

 on the tail the longer interspersed hairs are more numerous, and many of 

 them are quite black, giving the tail a more dusky appearance than the rest 

 of the body. 



" In addition to the distinct varieties of this species, the Black and 

 Cross Fox, we have seen some shades of difference in colour in the red variety. 

 In some, the colours on the back are considerably darker than in others. — 

 We have seen several with the nose and chin nearly black, and in others the 

 vrliite tip at the tail is replaced with black." 



Dimensions. 



Feet. luchffl. 



From point of nose to root of tail 2 6 



Tail, (vertebras) 1 1 



To end of hair 1 5 



Heiarht at shoulders 1 1 



Height of ears posteriorly 2^^ 



The above description of the Red Fox is taken from Audubon and 

 Bachman's Quadrupeds of North America, vol. 2, page 269, and in their 

 account of the habits of the animal, the authors state that it is seldom or 

 never to be met with south of the States of Kentucky and Tennessee. They 

 frequent the coast of New Jersey in great numbers, where they find an 

 abundance of food amonq- the wild fowl, upon which they spring while they 

 are asleep upon the ponds and creeks near the shore, but more particularly 

 from the numerous wounded fowl which escape from the numerous gunners ; 

 also crabs and fish which are thrown up dead by the surf, and rabbits, and 

 wading birds, in the summer. 



Its habits in Canada are too well known to need any lengthened 

 description here. It preys upon all the smaller productions of the farm-yard, 

 and bears as bad a character here as its near relation the English Fox, the 

 hero of many a fireside tale, has borne for ages in the olden world. That 



