FOX. 315 



" The Fox (says Buffon) is so extremely sub- 

 ject to the influences of climate, that the varie- 

 ties of this species are as numerous as those of 

 the domestic animals. Most of our Foxes are 

 reddish; but some are found of a silver-grey; in 

 both the end of the tail is white : in Burgundy 

 the latter are called Coal-Foxes (Charboniers), be- 

 cause their feet are remarkably black. Their 

 bodies have also the appearance of being shorter; 

 because they are better clothed with hair. There 

 are some which are really shorter than the other 

 kinds, and of a dirty grey-colour, nearly the 

 same with that of old Wolves; but it is uncertain 

 whether this difference constitutes a real variety, 

 or is produced by the age of the animal, which 

 perhaps grows whiter as he advances in years. 

 In the northern climates are Foxes of all colours; 

 black, blue, grey, iron-colour, silver-grey, white, 

 with yellow feet, white with black heads, white 

 with the extremity of the tail black, reddish with 

 the throat and belly entirely white, and, lastly, 

 some have a black line along the back, and cross- 

 ed with another over the shoulders: the latter 

 are larger than the other kinds, and have black 

 throats." 



Some of the above, however, which the Count 

 de Buffon considered at that time as varieties, are 

 at present regarded as species perfectly distinct. 



The Fox has a broad head, a sharp snout, a 

 flat forehead, obliquely-seated eyes, sharp erect 

 ears, a body well covered with hair, and a strait 

 bushy and somewhat pointed tail. 



