1233 



VOMER. 



VULPES. 



1234 



consisting of a grumous material and refractive amylaceous (?) sphe- 

 rules, after a time undergo segmentation, at the same time exhibiting 

 a distinct wall, beyond which is a delicate areola, apparently of a 

 gelatinous consistence. 



" 3. That this segmentation, attended with a corresponding augmen- 

 tation in the number of the refractive spherules, terminates ultimately 

 in the formation of numerous contiguous particles or segments. 



"4. That these ultimate segments are gradually separated from 

 each other, remaining connected only by elongated processes or fila- 

 ments, and constituting the ciliated zoospores of the mature Volvor. 



" 5. That these zoospores at first are simple masses of protoplasm, 

 containing a transparent nuclear body, and that afterwards they pre- 

 sent for a time clear circular spaces, which contract rhythmically at 

 regular intervals ; and are subsequently furnished with a brown eye- 

 spot ; and at a very early period with two long retractile cilia, which 

 arising from an elongated hyaline beak penetrate the parent cell-wall, 

 and exert active movements external to it. 



" 6. That in a concentric plane internal to these ciliated zoospores 

 are placed the germs of future individuals destined to follow the same 

 course." 



VOMER. [SKELETON.] 



VULPES, Brisson, the generic name for a species of that sub- 

 division of the great genus Canis, which has the pupils of the eyes 

 elliptical or almost linear by day, though they become round or nearly 

 so in the hours of darkness. 



Although the dental formula and general osteological character of 

 the Foxes agree with that of the true Doqs, the lengthened and sharp- 

 pointed muzzle, the round head, the erect and triangular ears, the 

 form of the pupil, the long body, short limbs, and elongated, thick, 

 and buahy brush, constitute differences which separata the former 

 from the latter, at least sub-generically. 



V. rulyarit (Brisson), the Common Fox; Canis vidpet, and 0. alopex 

 (the latter the variety, if variety it may be called, with the tip of the 

 tail black ?) of Linuanis ; Volpe of the Italiaes ; Raposa of the 

 S|>;mi-h; Hapo/.a of the Portuguese; Fuchs of the Germans; Vos 

 i.f the Dutch; Raff of the Swedes; Rev of the Danes; Tod of the 

 Scotch ; Llwynog, foam. Llwynoges of the Welsh, is too well known 

 to require description. The time of gestation may be taken at from 

 60 to 65 days, and the birth of the young takes place in April. In a 

 year and a half they attain their full size, and have been known to 

 live 13 or 14 years ; but as this can only have been ascertained, observes 

 Mr. Bell, of individuals in confinement, it is very probable that, in a 

 state of nature, it considerably exceeds that period. Of its cunning 

 much has been said, and a great deal of it is true. The reader will 

 find some interesting remarks on the habits and economy of the 

 Common Fox by Dr. Weissenborn in the number of Loudon's 

 ' Magazine 1 (N. S.) for October 1837. 



The Common Fox inhabits, according to Linutcus, Europe, Asia, 

 and Africa. Cuvier mentions it as reaching from Sweden to Egypt, 

 both inclusive. Mr. Strickland notes it as occurring near Smyrna. 

 The Fox named Mclanogaster ,by the Prince Bonaparte in his 

 ' Fauna Italica ' is probably a variety only. The strong smell pro- 

 ceeding from the anal glands and urine of the Common Fox is very 

 offensive. 



V. fvlvtu, the American Fox, which is, according to Sir John 

 Richardson, very plentiful in the wooded districts of the Fur Countries, 

 about HOOO (skins) being annually imported into England from thence, 

 bears a strong resemblance to the Common European Fox, and, until 

 De Beauvois pointed out its peculiarities, was considered identical 

 with it. Thus it is the European Fox of Pennant. Sir John Richard- 

 son observes that the American, or Red Fox, does not possess the 

 wind of its English congener, its strength being exhausted by the first 

 short burst, though it runs about a hundred yards with great swift- 

 ness and is soon overtaken by a wolf or a mounted huntsman. He 



keeshcw of the Cree Indians. 



V Lannjita the Arctic Fox, is considered by Sir John Richardson 

 to be identical with the Pied Foxes of James ; Canis Layoput of 

 Linnaus and Forster, Colonel Sabine, Mr. Sabine, Dr. Richardson, and 

 I)r Hixrlan; Arctic Fox of Pennant and Hearne; Greenland Dog of 

 Pennant (?), a young individual; Isatis and Arctic Fox of Godman; 

 Stone Fox of authors; Terreanee-arioo of the Esquimaux ot Melville 

 Peninsula Terieniak of the Greenlauders ; Wappeeskee-shew-mak- 

 keeshew of the Cree Indians; and Pes/,i of the Russians. 



This creature in extremely cleanly. It never soils its habitation 



" This Fox is found in the highest northern latitudes throughout the 

 winter. The young generally migrate to the southward late in the 

 utumn and collect in vast multitudes on the shores of Hudson's 

 Bay : they return early the following spring along the sea-coast to 

 lie northward, and seldom again leave the spot they select as a breed- 

 ng-place." (Captain James Ross.) " Their southern limit in North 

 Lmerica appears to be about 50 N. lat. They are numerous on the 

 hores of Hudson's Bay, north of Churchill, and are found at Behring's 

 itraits ; but the brown variety ( V. fuliyinostis) is the more common in 

 he latter quarter." (Sir John Richardson.) 



The fur is considered to be of small value in commerce, but the 



esh is said to be good food, particularly when young. Captain 



"Vanklin and his party compared the flavour of the young animal to 



hat of the American hare. In the Arctic voyages they have always 



een regarded as luxuries. 



K.N., received fifteen from one trap 



form ng burrows in sandy spots, 20 or 30 together Sir John Richard 

 , saw^ne of these fox villages on Point Turnagamm 684 N. lat. 1 

 ,oon becomes tame in confinement and is eager to hide its food as soon 

 u it obtains it, even when there seems no danger of losing it. bnow 

 is the material generally used for this purpose, and when piled ove 

 the food w forcibly pressed down by the nose. 



MiT. BUT. DIV. VOL. IV. 



Arctic Fox (Tuliiea Lagopus) in its winter dress. 



Zoologists generally agree that the Sooty Fox, or Blue Fox (Qanis 

 fiiliyinosus), is only a variety of the animal above described and 

 Eigured. 



V. Caama, the Caama, the smallest of the South African foxes. 

 Dr. Smith, in his ' Catalogue to the South African Museum,' from a 

 specimen in which our figure is taken, observes, that some few indi- 

 viduals are to be met with within the limits of the colony, but that 

 the favourite residence of the species seems to be to the northward ; 

 though there it is daily becoming less and less numerous, owing to the 

 skins being much in request among the natives as a covering in the 

 cold season. Many of the Becluianas, it is stated, find their sole 

 employment in hunting these animals with dogs, or snaring them. 

 Like other foxes, it is a great enemy to birds which lay their eggs on 

 the ground ; and it is suspiciously watched by the ostrich in par- 

 ticular during the laying season. The Caama, when he succeeds in 

 obtaining the eggs, pushes them forcibly along the ground till they 

 come in contact with some substance hard enough to break them, 

 when he feasts on the contents. The natives take advantage of the 

 watching of the ostrich for this robber to lure the bird to it 

 destruction. Knowing that the anxious parent runs to the nest the 

 moment a fox appears, they fasten a dog near it and hide themselves. 



Caama (C.mi> Caama}. 



