377 



The prices of furs are always changing but those quoted in 

 a recent list of a New York fur exporter are: 

 Red Fox (Northern Pa.), $1.50 to $1.60. 

 Red Fox (Western Pa.), $140 to $1.50. 

 Grey Fox, (Penna.) .60c to .70c. 



Silver Fox (Eastern, Ca., and N. W.), $20 to $110.00. 

 Cross Fox (Eastern, Ca. and N. W.), $5.00 to $10.00. 



"While the Cross and Black or Silver Foxes ai-e usually con- 

 sidered different 'varieties,' they are not such, in the classifi- 

 catory sense of that term, any more than are the red, black, 

 or white Wolves, the black Marmots, Squirrels, etc. The proof 

 of this is in the fact that one or both of the 'varieties' occur 

 in the same litter of whelps from normally colored parents. 

 They have no special geographical distribution, although, on 

 the whole, both kinds are rather northerly than otherwise, the 

 Silver Foxes especially so. It does not appear to be ascer- 

 tained exactly how far the styles of pelage tend to perpetuate 

 themselves; that is to say, in what proportion of cases a cross 

 will produce a cross litter, or a black, a black litter; but the 

 inter-breeding of the several varieties, and their purely acci- 

 dental origin, from parents of the normal coloration, are incon- 

 testable."— (Coues and Yarrow, Zool., Epl., W. 100 Merid. V. 18, 

 75. 53). 



Habitat. — This species, including its varieties, is common in 

 the Arctic regions and the northerly portions of the United 

 States. Found generally throughout Pennsylvania, and in sec- 

 tions of the State this predatory animal is very plentiful. 



The Ked Fox surpasses all other of our mammals 

 in cunning; \\v. is also exceedingly wary and often 

 when plentiful in a section, he frequently, by watch- 

 ful and cautious ways, escapes observation. 



PDENTIFUL, IN MANY FARMING DISTRICTS. 



This species is much more plentiful in many highly 

 cultivated farming districts than is usually supposed. 

 This was noted in (Chester county, Pa., in 1886*, when, 

 under the scalp act of 18S5, in about four mo-nths, up- 

 ward of a hundred Red Foxes (they were tlie genuine 

 article, as no dog or other heads would "go" in Ches- 

 ter for Foxes) were presented for bounty and paid for 

 bv the oo-mmissi oners. 



•See in Chapter TX uumumous locord? of Foxes in different 

 counties of Pennsylvania. 



