THE DOG FAMILY FOXES. 163 



Wilfred H. Osgood of the U. S. Department of Agricul- 

 ture, says : ' ' Cold weather has no terrors for Foxes, and 

 snow is their delight. In confinement, as in their natural 

 state, they show considerable individuality. ' Some are 

 much better breeders than others; some can never be in- 

 duced even to mate, and others mate but do not produce 

 young. Their wild nature dominates most of their actions, 

 and it is rare that one becomes really tame. They are con- 

 stantly in a state of fear, and it is only by the greatest 

 care that confidential relations can be established between 

 them and their keepers. 



"Hope for increased profits in fox raising lies almost 

 entirely in improving the stock by selective breeding. The 

 darker the animal the more valuable its pelt. Hence the 

 object of every breeder should be to produce pure black 

 foxes, or as nearly pure black as possible. To do this he 

 must retain his darkest and most valuable animals for 

 breeding, selling only the poorer ones. The temptation 

 to sell animals of high value is often very great, but in the 

 long run such animals are likely to be more profitable if 

 kept for breeding. The possibilities of modification and 

 improvement by selection are fully as great with wild 

 animals as with domestic. This has already been demon- 

 strated in the case of foxes. Some of the highest priced 

 fox skins ever put on the market have been from animals 

 reared in confinement and improved by selective breeding. 



"Breeding for disposition is perhaps fully as important 

 as breeding for color. So far this has not been attempted 

 to any extent, but evidently it may be of great importance 

 in overcoming some of the principal difficulties now en- 

 countered. By selecting those animals which show "the 

 least aversion to man, due regard being paid to prolific- 

 ness and other qualities, a strain may be obtained which 

 will breed with the certainty of our domestic animals. 

 This in time should produce a thoroughly domesticated 

 race of foxes, a result of inestimable value, amply justify- 

 ing the utmost efforts. Although it may not be fully ac- 

 complished by those who begin it every breeder should 

 keep its importance in mind, for every slight improvement 

 will be to his advantage, and in the end the unqualified 

 success of the business will be assured. 



