3o8 Field Museum of Natural History — Zoology, Vol. XL 



The Red Fox has justly acquired a reputation for shrewdness and 

 cunning and an abiHty to avoid traps and generally take care of himself 

 not exceeded by any of our mammals, as anyone who is well acquainted 

 with him can testify. 



For many years the writer had a somewhat unusual opportunit}' for 

 observing these animals at his country estate at Great Island, Massa- 

 chusetts, where, as no dogs were allowed in the Deer Park, a thickly 

 wooded enclosure of some 175 acres, it was considered a most desirable 

 residence by Foxes, especially as there was a good supply of Hares, Rab- 

 bits, quail and pheasants to be found there. We knew of several dens 

 which seemed to be always occupied. Young Foxes were seen playing 

 about them each spring and we often heard them barking in the evening. 

 One of these dens was under a huge split boulder in open ground on a 

 sandy peninsular covered with coarse beach grass at least half a mile 

 from trees; the others were burrows in the ground in the deep woods. 

 Their numbers apparently increased rapidly, as did also the mortality 

 among the pheasants and Hares, and it was therefore decided to exter- 

 minate them. As no attempt had been made to shoot them, they had 

 become quite bold and were often seen trotting leisurely through the 

 woods or standing watching us from a distance, but after two or three 

 were shot, the others became very shy. During the winter the man in 

 charge of the place kept a dozen or more traps constantly baited, with 

 the result that some twenty Skunks and other- mammals were caught, 

 but no Foxes. During the next few years, while several were shot and a 

 few trapped, their numbers did not seem to decrease materially and all 

 efforts to exterminate them by shooting or trapping proved unavailing.* 



The Red Fox makes its home in burrows in the ground and at times 

 in holes in rocks or ledges, or hollow stumps, and the young, which 

 generally number from 4 to 8, are born late in March or early in April. 

 It is both nocturnal and diurnal in its habits and is practically omniv- 

 orous. Its well-known fondness for poultry is too proverbial to require 

 comment, and it preys upon Muskrats, Rabbits, Skunks, Mice, Rats, 

 birds' eggs, etc., etc., as well as fish; and it is said to eat grapes and 

 other fruit. 



Regarding their depredations in the poultry yard. Stone and Cram 

 say,t "I have known a fox to kill three or four full grown fowls in an 



* This was undertaken as an experiment to learn if Foxes could be exterminated 

 or driven away from a place, which they liked, by non-scientific means, such as would 

 be employed by the average .farmer, including shooting with rifle or shot-gun and 

 trapping with various kinds of traps using both live and dead bait, including Mice, 

 chickens. Rabbits, etc., but the use of hounds, poison and prepared scents being 

 barred. The area in question consisted of woodland connected with the mainland 

 by a treeless, sandy peninsular some two miles in length. 



t American Animals, 1902, pp. 266-267. 



