FOXES. '223 



hounds, used for tending the reindeer on the fells, are 

 mangy, ugly little curs, unlike any breed I have ever seen 

 before. 



Subgenus Vulpes. 



Nose pointed ; pupil of the eye vertically oblong ; tail 

 longer than half the body. 



32. C. VULPES, L. Skogs Baf. The Common Fox. D. F. 



f Ears pointed; on the outside, as well as the legs, 

 black; the soles of the feet bare; colour red; in the 

 winter much darker and handsomer than in summer. 

 Length 2 ft. 6 in. ; tail nearly 2 ft. 



I believe there is not the least difference between the 

 Swedish and the British fox, except that I always thought 

 the former was a little the largest. Is met with in all parts 

 of Scandinavia, but not so common in Lapland as the next. 

 We have two or three varieties in colour, of which the black 

 fox is by far the rarest. 



33. C. LAGOPUS-, L. Fjall Eaf. (The Arctic Fox.) F. 



Ears round, same colour as the body ; soles of feet 



thickly covered with hair. Length 2 ft. ; tail about a 



foot ; winter dress pure white, and very bushy ; in the 



beginning of July most of this long winter coat is shed, 



and till about October the colour is black-grey. 



Is identical with the Arctic fox of other northern lands ; 



met with on all the Scandinavian snow fells. Pair in April 



early, and the female brings forth from four to six young in 



June. The fur is worth very little, as the hair is said to 



come off. 



OKDEK 4, PHOCACEA. 

 Fam. 1. SEALS. 



Not one of the Scandinavian seals has outward ears. 



The female only brings forth one young in tho year, which 

 is at first covered with wool, and as long as it is thus 

 covered, it never goes into the water. 



