564 



THE CARNIVORES 



parts nearly white. The variety is found in the Western Himalayas., from Nipal 

 and Kashmir to Gilgit. In the higher Himalayas, Tibet and probably Afghanistan, 

 it is, however, replaced by another and larger variety which extends over the 

 greater part of Central Asia. This large Central Asian fox is a paler-colored and 

 yellower animal as a rule, with very thick fur, and a superb brush. The Japanese 

 fox is somewhat variable in color, but has been declared to present no points of 

 specific distinction ; and the same holds good for the foxes of Siberia and China. 

 The North African fox, which has also been considered a distinct species, must like- 

 wise be regarded merely as a variety. 



AN INTERESTING DISCOVERY. 



This disposes of the foxes of this group found in the Old World, and 



American n those of North America, where there is a greater range of 



Varieties ' . 



variation in color and markings. These American foxes have received 



distinct names, according to their coloration. Among these, the so-called red fox is 

 usually of a reddish-yellow color, with the hinder part of the back grizzled, the 

 throat, and more or less of the under parts white, the outer surfaces of the ears 

 black, and the tail, except as the white tip, with black extremities to the hairs. 

 The cross fox, as its name implies, is characterized by the presence of a transverse 

 dark stripe across the shoulders, and of another running down the middle of the 

 back. The tail is darker than in the red fox, while the legs, muzzle, and under parts, 

 are nearly or completely black. The beautiful silver, or black fox, of which the fur 

 is so highly valued, is usually nearly or entirely black, with the exception of the 

 tip of the tail, which is generally white. It derives its name from the gray rings 

 usually marking the otherwise black hairs of the hinder half of the back, the head, 



