100 



The Living Animals of the World 



Photos ly Scholastic Photo. Co.] 

 In summer. 



ARCTIC FOX. 

 Changing his coat. 



[Parson's Green. 

 In winter. 



The Arctic Fox is one of the few animals showing different phases of colour, some being blue at all seasons, wliile others are white in winter 



and mottled brownish in summer. 



shot when carrying away a lamb from a sheepfold near the cliffs of Sidmouth, in Devon. 

 The shepherd thought it was a marauding dog, and lay in wait with a gun. 



THE ARCTIC Fox. 



The ARCTIC Fox is somewhat different in habits from others. It is also much smaller 

 than the red foxes. Its fur is almost as soft as eiderdown, and so thick that the cold does 

 not penetrate. In winter the whole coat changes colour, not gradually, but in patches. At 

 the same time a dense growth of under-fur comes up on the body. In summer this is shed 

 in patches, almost like loose felt. The foxes live in colonies, but are so hard put to it for 

 food in the winter that they desert their homes to gather round whaling-ships or encampments. 

 There they steal everything edible, from snowshoe-thongs to seal-flesh. Blue foxes are bred 

 and kept for the sake of their fur on some of the islands in Bering Sea. They are fed on the 

 flesh of the seals killed on the neighbouring islands, and are, like them, killed when their 

 coat is in condition. 



THE FENNECS. 



Africa has a group 

 Some of th em 

 Maholis and other 

 Several are not more 

 long; they are a 

 but the eyes are very 



The COMMON 

 over the whole of 

 food is dates and 

 but it is also fond 

 eat mice and insects, 

 original hero of the 

 and the grapes, 

 fennec, which is 

 the SILVER Fox, is 

 Cape to as far 

 It is 23 inches 

 mainly on insects 



of small foxes of its own. 



Photo ly A. S. Rudland <fc Sons. 



FENJSTEC-FOX. 



Remarkable for the great size of the ears. An African species. Its sense 

 of hearing is probably very acute. 



They have very large ears and dark eyes, 

 remind us of the 

 large-eyed lemuroids. 

 than 9 or 10 inches 

 whitish-khaki colour, 

 dark and brilliant. 

 FENNEC is found 

 Africa. Its favourite 

 any sweet fruit, 

 of eggs, and will 

 It is probably the 

 story of the fox 

 The large-eared 

 sometimes called 

 found from the 

 north as Abyssinia, 

 long, and lives 



and fruit. 



