FUR-FARMING IN CANADA 17 
Investigation of the debated question of the colour phases of 
a foxes has produced definite information regarding its occur- 
rence. The fact that the cross, silver, black and red colours 
are all colour phases of the common red fox is of too common knowledge 
to warrant the citing of the many cases examined for evidence. The 
colours all exist and why they exist may be left to the discussion of 
biologists, some of whom say that ages ago foxes were originally dark 
coloured and that the silver is atavistic. It will be more useful in this 
discussion to describe how the darker colour is produced from red 
parents. 
A summary of the facts may be given as follows: 
1. Silver parents always produce silver pups—never red or 
cross pups. (See possible exception below.) 
2. Red parents mostly produce red, but, occasionally, some 
cross pups and even a small proportion of silver pups is produced. 
3. Usually cross (patched) parents produce cross pups. 
4. When a silver and a pure red are bred, they produce red 
pups with blacker markings on the belly, neck and points than 
the red parent. The pups are about of the colour known as ‘bas- 
tard.’ 
5. When a bastard red fox and a silver are mated the litter 
is on the average 50 per cent silver and 50 per cent red. 
6. Bastard red parents often produce a black or silver pup 
in a litter—the proportion of silver being about one out of four. 
7. The exceptions to the above rules are that sometimes the 
colours do not segregate, but rather blend, as in roan cattle when 
red and white hairs are intermixed and not separated into distinct 
patches. Cross foxes are produced by mating a red and a silver 
and, sometimes, an intermediate colour is secured in the pups. 
Thus, in some districts, every combination of the red, white and 
black colours of foxes is found. There are foxes which are: 
ee above and white below, with dark points. 
RED Bastard.—Red above and dark below and on the neck, with 
[ darker points. 
Poor Cross.—Mosily red and dezk as above with a silver 
Cross patch down the back and over the sholders and 
or hips. 
Patch Good C'ross.—Red on the sides, neck and ears, dark below 
[ and silvery over the back, shoulders and rump. 
