THE MAMMALS OF NEW JERSEY. 109 



Genus Urocyon Baird. 



Gray Foxes. 



Urocyon cinereoargenteus (Schreber). 



Gray Fox. 



Plate 57- 



Length, 39 inches. General color gray, hair banded black and 

 white, darker on the back, sides of the neck, ears and band 

 across the breast rusty, tips of ears black, feet rusty, as well as 

 the under surface of the body. Inner side of leg-s, throat and 

 middle of the breast white. Tail much coarser than that of the 

 red fox with no soft under fur. 



This is the common fox over the greater part of New Jersey. 

 It is an inhabitant of the woods and wilder sections of the coun- 

 try, and avoids the vicinity of man's habitation. 



Consequently while partaking- of pretty much the same bill of 

 fare as the red fox it is less destructive to poultry. 



The gray fox will not run before the hounds as does the red 

 fox, but seeks safety in concealment, and is soon run to ground. 



Vulpus virginianus Abbott, Cook's Geo. of N. J., 1868, p. 753. 

 — Beesley Geol. Cape May Co., 1857, p. 137. 



Urocyon cinereoargenteus Rhoads, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. 

 Phila., 1897, p. 31. — Rhoads, Mam. Pa. and N. J., 1903, p. 143. 



Family FELIDiE. 



Cats. 



The wild allies of the domestic cat in eastern North America 

 were three in number, the cougar, Felis couguar, Canada lynx, 

 Lynx canadensis, and the wild cat. Lynx ruffus. The first was 

 long since exterminated in New Jersey, as was also the second, 

 if indeed it ever occurred south of the New York state line, but 

 the last still occurs in wilder sections of the State in small 

 numbers. 



