148 MAMMALS OF PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW JERSEY. 



counties. The northern and extreme southern sections of the state are the 

 favored localities." — Abbott, Geol. N. J., appx. p. 753. "Have known of 

 two individuals shot on Mt. Lucas, one in 1879, the other abont 1S90." — 

 Silvester, 1901. 



Undoubtedly the red fox is nowhere common in N. J. as in Pa., though 

 numerous in the more rocky, mountainous districts. It is very rare in the 

 pine barrens, those in Cape May Co. probably being the decimated descend- 

 ants of those introduced long ago on Peck's beach and similar situations along 

 shore where they were confined by the inter\ening waters of the bay. As 

 these were sometimes frozen over in severe winters, some of these foxes would 

 cross to the mainland and become scattered. 



Habits, etc. — See above, under gray fox. 



Description of species. — Upper head, body and tail, bright, clear, yellowish 

 rufous ; belly, chin, throat and breast whitish. Legs brownish rufous, dark- 

 ening to the feet ; tail tipped with white. Black and silver and cross foxes 

 are only melanotic phases of this species. As in the gray squirrel and wolf 

 of the same regions these color-phases seem more numerous northward. All 

 phases of color may be found in the same litter, one or both or neither of the 

 parents being so colored. A Samson fox is merely one whose pelage has 

 become worn, thin, curly or crisp, generally from a disease which prevents,, 

 interrupts or otherwise affects the molt. It indicates a run-down or depau- 

 perate condition, or may sometimes result from being caught in forest fires. 

 Warren records three living black or silver foxes in Pa. known to him, one in 

 Clinton Co., one near I^ke Genoga, Sullivan Co., and a third in Pike Co. 

 Mr. E. O. Austin, of Austin, Potter Co., writes me that he saw the skin of one in 

 Coudersport many years ago. He also saw one running off when he was a boy. 

 The cross fox and silver fox he pronounces rare in Potter Co. The black fox 

 alluded to was sold for $200 by P. A. Stebbins, of Coudersport, a cross fox at 

 the same time bringing $80. Mr. Lin. Parker says that a strange, blackish 

 animal with long hair and bushy tail was seen near Highland Lake two years 

 ago. This may have been the Ganoga Lake black fox mentioned by ^^'arren. 

 Audubon states that black foxes were '* occasionally, but very rarely, killed in 

 the mountainous parts of Pennsylvania " in his day, 1850. 



Measurements. — Total length, 1000 mm. (39^2 in.) ; tail vertebrre, 360 

 (14); hind foot, 150 (5^). 



Genus Canis Linnaeus, Systema Naturne, 1758, vol. i, p. 38. 



Appalachian Gray Wolf; Timber Wolf. Canis mexicanus nubilus 



(Say). 



1823. Canis nubilus (Say), Long's Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, 

 vol. I, p. 169. 



