THE FOX-COLONY. 33 



sected by another line of the same colour, and after crossing 

 the shoulders, extends down the fore-legs. This fox is, 

 besides, distinguished from the common-fox by larger pro- 

 portions of body, greater breadth of skull, larger eyes, 

 thicker legs, and a more bushy tail. It is also said to be 

 of a more courageous disposition.* 



Though Nilsson has quite satisfied himself that the black- 

 fox that found in Scandinavia, I mean and the crossed- 

 fox, are mere accidental varieties of the common-fox, there 

 are those in Sweden, nevertheless, who lean to an opposite 

 opinion, and contend, with some show of reason, that not 

 only does the black-fox exist in the peninsula as a species ; 

 but that the crossed-fox, if not also a species, is a hybrid 

 between the black-fox and the common-fox. 



Not very many years ago, indeed, several lovers of natural 

 history were at the trouble of trying some experiments to 

 elucidate this matter, the results of which, though not 

 decisive of the question, are still curious enough in their 

 way. To carry out their projects, a so-called Raf-koloni, 

 or fox-colony, was established at Stenbrottet, near to Stock- 

 holm. It consisted of an enclosure, surrounded by pali- 

 sades, or rather planks, some fifteen feet in height, and 



* "In a pit-fall at this place," writes M. Skoldberg from Svarta Bruk, 

 " amongst the great numbers of foxes that have been captured, were two of 

 the crossed species, of which the one was taken during the past winter, and the 

 other the preceding autumn ; and it has been remarked that in both instances 

 they not only carried the duck that served as decoy along with them in their 

 descent, but eat it up afterwards, which is not customary with the common 

 red-fox. The latter, indeed, when the duck falls into the pit with him which, 

 however, does not happen once in twenty times and that he finds himself 

 prisoner, always allows her to remain untouched. The conclusion to be drawn 

 from this is, that the crossed-fox is of a more courageous disposition than 

 the red-fox. 



VOL. II. D 



