130 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS ZOOLOGY GENERAL REPORT. 



pointed out in the article on the last mentioned species. I will only state that the muzzle of 

 the latter is considerably longer and more slender, exceeding in this respect any species with 

 which I am acquainted. 



It is not a little remarkable that there have as yet been no remains of the red fox detected 

 among the fossils derived from the Carlisle and other bone caves. The gray fox is abundantly 

 represented, but not a trace of the other. This would almost give color to the impression some 

 what prevalent that the red fox of Eastern America is the descendant of individuals of the 

 European red fox imported many years ago, and allowed to run wild and overspread the country. 

 The fact of their present abundance and extent of distribution is no barrier to the reception of 

 this idea, as the same has been the case with horses brought over by the Spaniards, after the 

 discovery of America, and set at liberty. As is well known, the immense herds of these animals 

 in Mexico, Texas, and the western plains, are the lineal descendants of the imported horse. 

 Nor is there any serious difficulty to be met with in the different characteristics of the Ameri 

 can animal as the finer fur, brighter color, narrower and more delicate head, sharper muzzle, 

 &c., as it is in precisely such osteological peculiarities that the Anglo-American race differs 

 from its English stock. 



VULPES MACROURUS, Baird. 



Prairie Fox. 



Vulpes macrounis, BAIRD, in Stansbury's Exploration Great Salt Lake, ^published June, 1852,) 309. 



yulpetvtah, ACD. &. BACH., Pr. A. N. Sc. Ph. V, for June 30, 1852, (published July, 1852,) 114. IB. N. Am. 



Quad. HI, 1853, 255; pi. cli. 

 ? Vulptt fulvus, MAXIM. Reise, II, 1841, 98. 



Sp. CH. In size, length of fur and tail, exceeding the Vulpes fuhus. Tail vertebra, usually 18 inches in length; breadth 

 between lateral hairs eight to nine inches. Colors of the light variety, similar to those of the red fox, but yellower, and with 

 more white beneath. 



This magnificent fox, the finest species known, is an inhabitant of the central portions of 

 North America, and is eminently remarkable for the beauty and excellence of its fur. Very 

 similar, in general appearance, to the common red fox ; its superiority in size will at once 

 readily distinguish it. It appears to run into the same varieties as our red fox, and that of 

 Europe, although I have never seen a black skin. Several fine cross foxes, however, of this 

 species have been received among the various government collections. 



Owing to the close resemblance to the common red fox, it is difficult to describe the prairie 

 fox intelligibly, except by comparison with the other species. As already stated, it is consider 

 ably larger, the tail particularly so. The ears are very large, and quite acutely pointed, in 

 both respects exceeding the red fox. Their concavity seems less beset with hair, although the 

 bristly hairs anterior to the meatus are very long. The eyes are only about an inch and a 

 quarter apart, nearer, in fact, than in the red fox. The feet are large and stout, and in the 

 only perfect specimen before me, a cross fox, (No. 2'!,) their soles are covered with a long dense 

 wool, completely concealing the pads, which are reduced to quite small dimensions, but not over 

 grown with hair. This development of wool on the feet is, however, seen in the cross fox 

 belonging to the common specieg. 



