XXXI. 



Kit-fox or Swift. 



Vulpes velox (Say). 

 {L. Vulpes, see ante; velox, swift.) 



Cams velox Say, 1823, Long's Exped. Rky. Mts., I, p. 487. 

 Vulpes velox AuD. & Bach., 1851, Quad. N. A., II, p. 13. 

 Type Locality. — Vicinity of Cherry Creek, Laramie 

 County, Wyo. 



French Canadian, le Re'tiard des prairies, ou vif. 

 Yankton Sioux, Taghn-kay-ha. 

 Ogallala Sioux, Mee-yah'-chah. 



The CanidcE or Dog Family comprises digitigrade car- 

 nivores of large size; they have blunt, non-retractile claws; 

 bushy tails; pointed muzzles; toes, 5 in front, 4 behind; teeth, 

 42 or more. 



In addition to the characteristics of the genus Vulpes (see 

 p. 706), the Kit-fox has: 



Length, 26 inches (660 mm.); tail, 9 inches (228 mm.); 

 hind-foot, 4 inches (102 mm.). 



A full-grown specimen, from Medicine Hat, Sask., 

 weighed 4I pounds. 



General colour, pale bufFy-yellow, becoming a deeper yel- 

 lowish-brown on the back of the ears across the lower neck, on 

 the outside of fore-legs and back of hind-legs; below, it is 

 nearly white; on each side of the snout is a black spot; the 

 back is covered with a beautiful silvery-gray mantle in which 

 the gray-brown under-fur is peppered and frosted over with 

 conspicuous white and inconspicuous black tips of the long 

 hairs; this silver-tipping is continued onto the snout. The 

 tail is warm yellowish-gray above; strong yellowish below; the 



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