415 



GRAY FOX. 



Urocyon cinereoargenteiis. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Nearly as large as the Red Fox, but perhaps a little more 

 chunky and has shorter legs. It is not subject to the marked 

 variations of pelage already described in the Red Fox. The pre- 

 vailing color is a frosted grayish-black; each of the long hairs 

 projecting above the thick coat of yellowish and grayish fur, 

 and so conspicuous on upper parts generally are starting at the 

 roots, whitish, then dusky, then white, aljout % of an inch) and 

 black (about % an inch) to ends. Cheeks and throat are whit- 

 ish. The ears behind and about base, side of neck, streak 

 across the chest, edges of abdomen, and more or less of legs, 

 reddish or cinnamon brown. Lower parts are whitish and pale 

 yellowish brown or reddish. Tail is blackish above, has dark 

 tip, and is rusty below. More or less blackish about muzzle. A 

 whitish patch on each side of nose. 



Habitat. — A southern species. "Occurs in Oregon, Texas and 

 California, and with the Red extends from the Atlantic to the 

 Pacific. It is not common in New England and only accidental 

 in Maine and Canada. It is more southern than the Red Fox, 

 being the prevailing species from Virginia southward."— Bray- 

 ton, Mammals of Ohio. 



The Gray Fox, when pursued by dogs does no-t, like 

 the Red, lead the barking hounds long disiances, but 

 will play hide and seek with them, oftentimes in a very 

 small area of territory. 



EE CIRCLED, AND TURNED IN AND OUT. 



Some years ago I was hunting Pheasants in an old 

 bark peeling along the Susquehanna river, above Lock 

 Haven, and flushed eight or ten birds which scattered 

 and hid along the mountain side, and in a deep ravine. 

 On one side of this ravine there was a dense patch of 

 laurel, with lots of decaying logs, fallen tree-tops, and 

 lichen covered bowlders. This place was nearly half a 

 mile long and about half as wide. Two hounds were 

 Id there making livelv music, and liieir excrtiouis 



