THE BLACK FOX. 245 



been those of the Swedish or Norway common fox, 

 but a broad band of black passed from the nose 

 over the head and back down to the end of the tail, 

 and was crossed by another over the shoulders, 

 extending in a narrower line over the outside of the 

 fore .legs down to the toes. This variety is noticed 

 likewise by Olaus Magnus, and does not belong to 

 Germany, being confined to the Scandinavian pe- 

 ninsula. It is a different species from that of 

 America. 



The Roman Fox (Vulpes melanogaster, BONA- 

 PARTE.) We think this to be a distinct species, 

 both from its form and colours. The animal is of 

 the larger size of foxes, the nose pretty full and the 

 limbs high. The nose, forehead, nape, back, shoul- 

 ders, after edge of the fore legs, and base of the tail, 

 yellowish fulvous; the inside of the ears, cheeks, 

 lips, chin, a streak in front of the fore legs, ante- 

 terior part of the thigh and groin, white ; the back 

 of the ears, throat, breast, belly, the inside of the 

 thighs, and the whole of the legs, black ; a collar 

 of brown passes under the throat from behind each 

 ear ; and the tail, grisly at the base, becomes gra- 

 dually white, ending in that colour at the tip, 

 having just above it one broad black ring, and ten 

 others of the same colour, broadest on the inferior 

 surface, and gradually obliterating on the superior 

 as they ascend towards the root. This species is 

 found in the vicinity of Rome, and was first noticed 

 by the Prince of Musignano. 



The Black Fox. This variety of Northern Asia 



