THE LITTLE FOX. 253 



but little fulvous remained, and in some the grey- 

 was bluish-ash, and spread to the throat and belly. 



The Silver Fox (V. argentatus), appears to be 

 the ultimate deviation from the typical colour of 

 the red fox, of which it is deemed to be a variety. 

 When adult, and in prime fur, it is entirely deep 

 glossy black, with a silvery grizzle on the forehead 

 and on the flanks, passing upwards to the rump, 

 and occasionally there is a white spot on the breast. 

 This variety is extremely rare, and the skins sell 

 considerably higher than those of any other colour. 

 It is found in the same latitudes as the red. Both 

 varieties are kept in the Zoological Gardens, Lon- 

 don. 



The Little Fox (C. velong, SAY.) In examining 

 the immense collection of peltry in the stores of Mr. 

 Astor, at New York, bundles of skins of reddish 

 foxes, strung together by the heads, always showed 

 a few of the number considerably surpassing the 

 rest in length, their hind feet hanging full six 

 inches lower; both kinds were, however, nearly 

 of the same colour, and both had their tails tipped 

 with white. Mr. Astor stated, that there was a 

 sp<icies much larger than the common fox, which 

 we then took to be identical with the European, 

 and concluded the larger to be new, and a genuine 

 American animal. In the Paris Museum there is a 

 red fox from New York, figured by Mr. Frederick 

 Cuvier, and somewhat different from Dr. Richard- 

 son's V.fuhus, probably a variety of latitude only; 

 but the smaller species can be no other than the 



