ioo THE LIVING 



fhott by Scholastic Photo. Co.] 



In summer 



ARCTIC FOX 



Changing his coat 



n'j Grim 



In "winter 



The Arctic Fox is one of the few animals showing different phases of colour, some being blue at all seasons, -while others are -white in -winter and 



mottled brownish in summer 



carrying away a lamb from a sheepfold near the cliffs of Sidmouth, in Devon. The shepherd 

 thought it was a marauding dog, and lay in wait with a gun. 



THE ARCTIC Fox 



The ARCTIC Fox is somewhat different in habits from others. It is also much smaller than 

 the red foxes. Its fur is almost as soft as eiderdown, and so thick that the cold does not pene- 

 trate. In winter the whole coat changes colour, not gradually, but in patches. At the same 

 time a dense growth of under-fur comes up on the body. In summer this is shed in patches, 

 almost like loose felt. The foxes live in colonies, but are so hard put to it for food in the winter 

 that they desert their homes to gather round whaling-ships or encampments. There they steal 

 everything edible, from snow-shoe-thongs to seal-flesh. Blue foxes are bred and kept for the 

 sake of their fur on some of the islands in Bering Sea. They are fed on the flesh of the seals 

 killed on the neighbouring islands, and are, like them, killed when their coat is in condition. 



THE FENNECS 

 Africa has a group of small foxes of its own. They have very large ears and dark eyes. 



Some of them 

 Maholis and other 

 Several are not more 

 long ; they are a 

 but the eyes are very 

 The COMMON 

 over the whole of 

 food is dates and 

 but it is also fond 

 eat mice and insects, 

 original hero of the 

 and the grapes, 

 fennec, which is 

 the SILVER Fox, is 

 Cape to as far 

 It is 23 inches 

 mainly on insects 



Photo by A. S. Rudland & Sons 



FENNEC-FOX 



Remarkable for the great size of the ears. An African species, 

 senst of hearing is probably -very acute 



Its 



remind us of the 

 large-eyed lemuroids. 

 than 9 or 10 inches 

 whitish-khaki colour, 

 dark and brilliant. 

 FENNEC is found 

 Africa. Its favourite 

 any sweet fruit, 

 of eggs, and will 

 It is probably the 

 story of the fox 

 The large-eared 

 sometimes called 

 found from the 

 north as Abyssinia, 

 long, and lives 

 and fruit. 



