96 THE FOX. 



Some naturalists think there are but two perma- 

 nent species of the fox in the United States, viz, the 

 gray fox and the red fox, though there are five or six 

 varieties. The gray fox, which is much smaller and 

 less valuable than the red, is the southern species, 

 and is said to be rarely found north of Maryland, 

 though in certain rocky localities along the Hudson 

 they are common. 



In the Southern States this fox is often hunted in 

 the English fashion, namely, on horseback, the riders 

 tearing through the country in pursuit till the ani- 

 mal is run down and caught. This is the only fox 

 that will tree. When too closely pressed, instead of 

 taking to a den or hole, it climbs beyond the reach 

 of the dogs in some small tree. 



The red fox is the northern species, and is rarely 

 found farther south than the mountainous districts 

 of Virginia. In the Arctic regions he gives place 

 to the Arctic fox which most of the season is white. 



The prairie fox, the cross fox, and the black or 

 silver gray fox, seem only varieties of the red fox, as 

 the black squirrel breeds from the gray, and the black 

 woodchuck is found with the brown. There is little 

 to distinguish them from the red, except the color, 

 though the prairie fox is said to be the larger of the 

 two. 



The cross fox is dark brown on its muzzle and ex- 

 tremities, with a cross of red and black on its shoul- 

 ders and breast, which peculiarity of coloring, and not 

 any trait in its character, gives it its name. They 



