418 



ural means of concealment just mentioned. This same habit, 

 moreover, causes a certain modification of the animal's range 

 with the settling of a country; in clearing off forests the Gray 

 Fox is forced to seek elsewhere, although in effect the cir- 

 cumstances that cause removal of one species are precisely 

 those that invite the other, the Red Fox being able to exist in 

 settled regions vphere the other could find no suitable resorts. 

 It is this that makes the Red a greater nuisance to the farmer; 

 it sticks close to the farm yard, being forced, in a measure, to 

 thus supply itself, owing simply to its being in more cultivated 

 districts. The Gray Fox subsists more extensively upon the 

 wild game of his habitat. Another distinctive feature Is the 

 climbing powers of the Gray Fox, much greater than would be 

 expected from an animal with non-retractile claws, and no 

 great 'hugging' powers. When hard pressed the Gray Fox is 

 treed as regularly as the Red is earthed. The climbing seems 

 to be simply an agile leaping along on inclined trunk, or from 

 bough to bough, through it has been noted that the animal can 

 climb a small trunk by clasping or even with its claws like 

 a cat or Raccoon" (Brayton's Mams, of Ohio). 



WHAT GRAY FOXES LIVE UPON. 



Gray Foxes feed upon all kinds of wild birds they 

 can catch; the Cottontails and Varying Hare, numer- 

 ous Mice, other small mammals, some insects, occa- 

 sionally frogs and sometimes, it is said, non-poisonous 

 snakes, are all eaten by them. They destroy poultry, 

 and, as can be seen on previous pages, they devour 

 Lambs. Farmers and sportsmen, very generally, speak 

 of Gray Foxes as being little, if any. better in habits, 

 than the red-coated robbers. Woodsmen who have 

 learned much of their sneaking ways say they should 

 all be killed. Some good observer, Audubon I think 

 it was, said the Red Fox is a sly, bold robber, but the 

 Gray Fox is a cowardly, skulking sneak-thief. 



