86 CAKNIVORA. 



from the European type ; it differs, of course, in some 

 characteristics, but so do the Moose, Eeindeer, Ermine, 

 etc., from the European varieties; these inhabit the 

 same districts as the Red Fox, but for some reason have 

 not been broken up into different species, although the 

 American and European Moose were separated for a 

 time. 



The American Red Fox would, no doubt, freely inter- 

 breed with the European, and the offspring would be 

 fertile. 



AMERICAN CROSS FOX. 



Cauls fnli-i(s. 

 French : Renard croisse. German : Kreuz Fuchs. 



The Cross Fox is merely a variety of colour of the 

 foregoing animal ; it is so called from the darker hair on 

 the shoulders. It is found in all the same districts as 

 the Red Fox, but it does not range so far South. The 

 remarks regarding difference of quality of fur, size, 

 distribution, etc., apply equally to this variety. 



The darkest and finest skins come from the Labrador 

 and Esquimaux Bay districts ; the least valuable skins 

 are the North-western from Montana, Dakota, Red 

 River, etc. These are quite pale in colour, and are 

 usually coarser-haired. They are scarcely distinguish- 

 able from the pale North-western Red Fox. 



The Silver, Cross, and Red Fox skins are packed 

 together in the Hudson Bay packages, the only differ- 

 ence being the colour. 



The belly and legs of the Cross Fox are black, the 

 ears are also black, and the tail is tipped with white. 



