FOXES FOXHOUNDS & FOX-HUNTING 



underside of the brush often shows a distinct 

 black line from root to tip. In three brushes in 

 my possession, this black line is very decided. 



Abnormal colours occasionally crop up. White 

 foxes are by no means uncommon, and black ones 

 have from time to time been reported. The 

 latter probably owe their origin to the introduction 

 into this country of Italian or Sardinian foxes. 

 British foxes vary considerably in size. The 

 largest specimens come from the hill-country of 

 Scotland, Wales, and the fells of Cumberland and 

 Westmorland. An average good fox will 



measure in the neighbourhood of 4 feet over all, 

 the brush occupying 18 inches of the total length. 

 In "Horse and Hound" General Roger D. 

 Williams gives the length of the American red 

 fox as 40 inches, but this I take it applies to the 

 smaller specimens found in Kentucky and Virginia. 

 Although I have handled a good many foxes 

 killed by hounds, unfortunately I have neglected 

 to take careftd measurements. Of ten fox 

 masks beautifully mounted for me by Spicer and 

 Sons, of Leamington, and now in my possession, 

 I can give the following dimensions taken with a 

 steel tape. These measurements, although per- 

 haps not coinciding exactly with those of the 

 living animals, will however give a fair general 

 idea. 



From between the ears to end of nose six and 

 one eighth of an inch to six and a half inches. 

 From between eyes to end of nose, three inches 

 to three and three eighths of an inch. From 

 root to tip of ear, three and a half inches and 

 upwards. A fox has large ears, and the above 

 measurement errs on the short side. Of brushes, 

 those I have measured varied from thirteen inches 

 to eighteen inches. The biggest fox does not 



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