36 



NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMOiNT. 



Part I. 



THE BLACK, OR SILVER FOX. 



THE LYNX. 



the Cross Fox agrees very nearly with 

 the red fox, and ditFers from it chiefly 

 in color, and perhaps a litlie in the fineness 

 of its fur. The skin of the Cross Fox 

 bears a much higher price thau the red fox, 

 which is owinir almost entirely to the 

 color. The price of a prime skin of this 

 fox in Vermont is from $1,50 to ^2,50. 



THE BLACK, OR SILVER FOX. 

 Canisfulvns. — Var. argentatus. 



Description". — Color sometimes entire- 

 ly black and shining, with the exception 

 of the tip of the tail, which is white^; but 

 more commonly hoary on some parts from 

 an intermixture of hairs tipped with white; 

 the nose, legs, sides of the neck, black, or 

 nearly so: fur long and thick upon tiie 

 body and tail, and short on the paws and 

 face ; soles of the feet covered with woolly 

 fur. One of the largest of this variety 

 measured from the nose to the insertion 

 of the tail 31 inches, and the tail, includ- 

 ing the hair, 18 inciies. 



History.— The Black or Silver Fox is 

 regarded by Dr. Richardson as another va- 

 riety of the common fox. It is much less 

 common than the preceding variety and 

 usually grows to a larger size. It has 

 sometimes been taken in Vermont, but 

 veryseldom. Its fur is exceedingly valu- 

 able, prime skinsbeing worth from $10 to 

 !^J.5 each. 



There is another variety in Vermont, 

 \vhichis not uncommon, called XhcSumpson 

 For. The fur is coarse resembling wool 

 and of little value. The Gray Fox, Canin 

 virginianus, is said to jiave been taken in 

 this state, but as I have seen no Vermont 

 specimen, it is here omitted. As we have 

 before said, it is disputed whether our 

 common red fox is, or is not identical with 

 the common fox of Europe. Harlan, 

 Godman, Richardson, and others, de- 

 scribe it as a distinct species. But Dr. 

 McMurtrie, the translator of Cuvier's An- 

 imal Kingdom, says that the Canisfuieus, 

 or American red fox, is identical with the 

 European, and was introduced into the 

 United States many years ago by some 

 Englishmen, who thought they afforded 

 better sport than the American species.* 



Gen'us Fei.is. — LinncLus. 

 Generic Characters. — Teeth 30 — Incis- 

 ors 6 canines l.i jirinders i..± Inferior in- 



6 ' 1 1 • - 3 3" 



cisors forniin" a reijular series ; canines vei y 

 slronp ; grinders, above, two conical ones on each 

 side, one carnivorous one with three h)bes and a 

 small tulierculoiis one, below, two false compres- 

 sed simple grinders and one carnivorous bicusped. 

 Head round, jaws short, tongue aculeated ; ears 



in general short and trianguJar ; pupils of the 

 eyes in some circular and in others verticallv 

 oval ; fore feel with 5 toes, hind feet with 4, all 

 furnished with long sharp retractile claws. 



* Cuvior's Animal Kingdom, Vol. 1, p. 433. 



THE LYNX. 

 Fclis canadensis. — LiNNiEUS. 



Description. — General aspect hoary, 

 sometimes mottled ; lighter and yellow- 

 ish beneath, the extremity of the hairs be- 

 ing white, and below, yellowish brown; 

 head rounded ; ears erect, terminated 

 with black pencils or tufts, 1.^ inch long, 

 black at the tip, with a black border on 

 the posterior side. Anterior border yel- 

 lowish. Base of the jaws surrounded by 

 a fringe of long hair, intermixed with 

 gray black and white ; brownish around 

 the mouth, white beneath ; whiskers black 

 and while ; tail terminated with black ; 

 legs yellowish ; toes 4 on each foot, much 

 spread ; nails sharp, white and concealed 

 in long silky fur or hair. Total length 3 

 feet 4 inches ; tail 5 inches. Height of the 

 back 1 foot 4 inches ; height of the ear IJ 

 inches. 



History. — The Lynx was never very 

 greatly multiplied in Vermont, but when 

 the country was new, it was frequently 

 met with, and individuals have been ta- 

 ken occasion;illy, down to the present 

 time. It resembles in fierceness and subt- 

 lety the other animals of the cat kind, 

 preying upon hares, rabbits, mice and oth- 

 er small animals. Nor does it confine 

 itself to small game, but sometimes des- 

 troys larger animals, such as deer, sheep, 

 calves &c. This it is said to do by drop- 

 ping upon them from branches of trees, 

 clinging upon their necks with their sharp 

 claws and opening their jugular veins 

 and drinking their blood. Sheep and lambs 

 have sometimes been destroyed by them 

 in this state. This animal is found in 

 large numbers in the vicinity of Hudson's 

 Bay. Their skins are valuable and the 

 Hudson Bay Company procure annually 

 from seven to nine thousand of them. The 

 flesh of the Lynx is used for food and is 

 said to resemble that of the hare. It is a 

 timid animal and makes but little defence 

 when attacked. Its gait is by bounds but 

 not swift. It swims well and will cross 

 lakes 2 miles wide. It breeds once a year 

 and has two young at a time. 



