MAMMALIA 



2IQ 



cold weather, made of wood or concrete, with a double wall, filled in 

 with cork or some other non-conducting material. In this warm re- 

 treat the young are born during the spring months after a gestation 

 period of about 50 days. One male can be used to mate with several 

 females. One litter of from one to nine pups are born each year, sexual 

 maturity being reached in 10 months. 



The foxes are killed in November or December when about eight 

 months old. To obviate injury to the skin, the foxes are often killed 

 either by crushing the chest or by breaking the neck. There is not 

 the slightest excuse for these cruel methods, especially the former, 



FIG. 139. Canadian otters, Lutra canadensis. 



in Canada.) 



(From Jones, Fur Farming 



since a small quantity of chloroform or of ether could be used at a 

 nominal cost. 



Since the value of the skin depends both on the cold climate and on 

 good health, the character of the food is important. Contrary to popu- 

 lar belief, the fox is far from being a strictly carnivorous animal, and a 

 very general diet of meat, fish, mice, rabbits, birds, vegetables, grass, 

 berries, eggs, milk, bread, dog biscuits, etc., is often employed. Like 

 other animals, the fox is subject to certain diseases and the rancher 

 who is raising animals as valuable as the silver fox, needs to make a 

 careful study of the whole business before he begins. Great care has 

 to be taken not only to prevent the escape of the animals from the pens 



