MAMMALS OF AMERICA 



seize and chew it off, without mercy." Other 

 observers tell like tales of its treachery. 



Mr. Merritt Cary in "A Biological Survey 

 of Colorado," says : " Gray Wolves were form- 

 erly abundant over practically the entire State, 

 except possibly the highest mountains, and were 

 especially numerous on the eastern plains, where 

 large bands preyed uj)on the Buffalo. From this 

 habit of hanging on the flanks of the large herds, 

 they were generally known as Buffalo Wolves. 

 The mountain animals are said to average much 

 darker than those of the plains. Unfortunatelv, 

 there are no specimens available from the moun- 

 tains to settle this point, but it is unlikely that 

 two forms occur in the State. Wolves are still 

 found in considerable numbers in North Park 

 and in Koutt and Rio Blanco Counties, where 

 they kill a great many range cattle. A few are 

 probably found throughout the mountains west 

 of the main ranges, and small numbers are still 

 ])resent over the more unsettled parts of the 

 eastern plains region, particularly in I'aco and 

 eastern Las Animas Counties, in the extreme 



southeast, where, in 1907 and in 1910, they were 

 said to be common and to kill a great many 

 sheep. In 1906 Wolves were common over most 

 of the Routt County, notwithstanding the bounty 

 of fifteen dollars authorized by the local stock 

 association, the additional ten dollars offered 

 by the county, and the efforts of several pro- 

 fessional wolf trappers employed by the asso- 

 ciation. 



" In Dixon, Wyoming. I saw a nearly adult 

 black W'oU in captivity, which had been captured 

 as a cub. This individual was kept in a large 

 cage in the back yard of its owner in Dixon. 

 A boy of three years was petting and stroking 

 its head through the bars, and the Wolf's every 

 movement betokened its [pleasure in the compan- 

 ionshi]) of the little fellow. All playfulness im- 

 mediately left it. however, on the approach of 

 a man. when the wild, untamable wolf nature 

 was revealed in bared fangs, curling lips, and 

 glaring eyes. The mother of this Wolf was gray, 

 as was also one of the three cubs captured in 

 the den." 



RED FOX 



Vulpes fulva { Dcsinarcst) 



Other Names. — See Remarks. 



General Description. — Size of a small dog. total 

 length ahciut J feet. Fur long and soft. Tail long and 

 bushy. Ears long, erect, pointed. Pupil of eye ellipti- 

 cal. Nose elongate and tapering. Color bright yellow- 

 ish rufous above, wliite underneath; feet blackish. 

 Claws long, sharp, non-retractile. Toes. 5 in front. 

 4 behind. 



Dental Formula. — Incisers, '^p?; Canines, ^-^ I Pre- 

 molars. ■'^■*; Molars. 2^^^ = 42. 



4—4 i—3 



Pelage. — Adults : Sexe-> identical. General color 

 above, yellowish brown or bright yellowish rufous, 

 darkest on back and shoulders ; throat, middle of belly 

 and undersides of legs white or whitish, often tinged 

 with dusky ; front of legs and feet largely brownish 

 black; terminal half of upper surface of ears dark 

 brown ; tail yellowish brown more or less tipped with 

 brownish black; tip of tail white. YocNc: Muzzle 

 blacki>h ; head dusky with sides of face light yellowish 

 and nearly the whole posterior ear black; tail dusky 

 with white tip. 



Measurements. — Male about l/io larger than female. 

 Length, male, 3 feet; tail. I4|'2 inches; hind foot, 5^ 

 inches. 



Range. — Northeastern United States. 



Food. — Small mammals, birds, frogs, meadow mice, 

 hares, squirrels, poultry. 



Remarks. — The Red Fox group is found over prac- 

 tically all of North America from the Atlantic to the 



Pacific, and from the .Arctic Coast south to about 35° 

 on the Atlantic Coast, and on the Pacific Coast, and in 

 the Rocky Mountains to about 38' latitude. This group 

 is made up of some 16 species and subspecies, all differ- 

 ing, in general, from one another in some variation on 

 the color pattern or in size, often rather minor details. 

 Among many of these species color phases or deviations 

 from the normal color pattern appear. These color 

 phases may appear in a litter with all the other mem- 

 bers the ordinary red pattern, and are of three styles: 

 the Cross Fox. the commonest of the color " freaks ", 

 the Black Fox, or the Silver Fox, the latter two very 

 rare in occurrence. These phases vary from the normal 

 as follows : 



Cross Fox. — Body color variable but showing more 

 or less gray and fulvous. A black streak crosses the 

 shoulders and meets at right angles another running 

 down tlie line of the back, forming in effect, a cross. 



Black Fox. — General color black with more or less 

 white tipping to the hairs. Tail with a white tip. 



Silver Fox. — Same as Black Fox but with many more 

 white-tipped hairs, giving a frosted appearance. 



Related Species 



Common, or Eastern Red Fox. — Vulfcs fulva 

 f Desniarest ). The typical form as described above. 

 Xortheastern United States. 



Nova Scotia Red Fox. — / 'ul/^cs ritbricosa nibricosa 

 (Bangs). Larger and darker in color. Range re- 

 stricted to Nova Scotia. 



