THE SOOTY FOX. 239 



Although they are without the distrust of foxes, 

 there is no want of sagacity in their conduct. The 

 notice of Captain Lyon, R.N., is sufficient proof of 

 both ; and their dexterous industry when searching 

 for food, swimming from rock to rock to feed on 

 birds' eggs, the young brood, or the parents, to 

 catch fish or mollusca, is well known. We refer to 

 the Fauna Borealis Americana of Dr. Richardson 

 for a more detailed account of this species. 



The Sooty Fox (Yulpes fuliginosus, Canis fill, of 

 authors), is, by many naturalists, considered as a 

 mere variety of colour of the former, and it is pos- 

 sible that such a variety occurs in America. But, 

 in that case, we are not aware that travellers describe 

 it as residing in the highest latitudes : they notice 

 sooty foxes much more to the south. One brought 

 from Norway we examined at Amsterdam, and, if 

 there be no mistake in the races of America, this 

 was certainly higher on the legs ; in bulk, inter- 

 mediate between the Arctic and the Norway red 

 fox, with rather large triangular ears, the fur on 

 the body and tail of the ordinary length, and the 

 colour wholly sooty black, with dull brown about 

 the nose, and on the flanks and legs. 



