COMMON FOX. 135 



The female differs little from the male. 



M. F. 



From tip of nose to root of tail 30 28 



Length of tail, including hair 19 17 * 



Height at shoulder 18 18 



Height at, rump 19 19j 



Length of head 7 7| 



Several remarkable varieties of the Common Fox 

 have come under my observation in Scotland. The 

 largest kind, or that which occurs in the Highland 

 districts, has the fur of a stronger texture, and of a 

 greyer tint, there being a greater proportion of 

 whitish hairs on the back and hind quarters ; and 

 /wo or more inches of the end of the tail white. 

 The Fox of the lower districts is considerably 

 smaller, more slender, of a lighter red, with the tail 

 also white at the end. Individuals of a smaller 

 size, having the head proportionally larger, the fur 

 of a darker red, the lower parts dusky, or dull 

 brownish-white, and the tip of the tail either with 

 little white or none, occur in the hilly parts of the 

 southern division of Scotland. The skull of the 

 Highland Fox appears remarkably large and strong 

 beside that of the ordinary kind, and its breadth is 

 much greater in proportion. These variations show 

 that little reliance can be placed upon even consi- 

 derable differences in colour and proportions as in- 

 dicative of a difference of species, and that the spe- 

 cific characters of our Fox, as given in books, must 

 be taken with great occasional exceptions. 



