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



of the name, virginianus, especially as a strict construction of the law of priority, as based on 

 the evidence of the date of publication on the title page, would lead to the same result. 



It is somewhat remarkable that in a considerable number of fossil teeth and jaws of foxes from 

 the bone cave of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and other localities, there should be none referable at 

 all to the red fox. All have the peculiar characteristics of the gray foxes already mentioned. 

 It is, however, difficult to consider them altogether the same with the Vulpes virginianus, which, 

 also, they exceed quite considerably in size. Comparing them with the oldest and largest of 

 seven gray foxes before me, the muzzle is broader, the head between the orbits mucli more so, 

 the zygoma higher anteriorly. The teeth are also much larger. The lower jaw is higher, and 

 the upper outline, exclusive of the teeth, is nearly straight, not slightly concave ; the height behind 

 the sectorial teeth is six-tenths of an inch, instead of 0.45, as in the recent specimens. The 

 teeth are larger in every way, and the posterior molar has but one pointed central tubercle, 

 instead of two twin ones. There are other differences, which I shall not now stop to enumerate. 

 I do not venture, however, to impose a new name, as I doubt whether I have yet seen the largest 

 size of the gray foxes, and am consequently ignorant of the changes which the skulls may 

 undergo. 



Measurements of skulls. 



