102 LLOYDS NATURAL HISTORY. 



In Britain, as we learn from the evidence of its fossilised 

 remains, the Fox is one of the oldest Mammalian inhabitants 

 of the country, its earliest occurrence being in the sandy beds 

 of the Red Crag of the East Coast, which belong to the upper 

 portion of the Pliocene period. Its remains are likewise met 

 with abundantly in the brick-earths of the Thames valley and 

 other parts of England, as well as in nearly all the English 

 caverns and some of those of Ireland. They do not appear, 

 however, to have been recorded in a fossilised state from Scotland. 



To a large extent, owing to its preservation for the purpose 

 of hunting, the Fox is still a common animal throughout 

 England ; but had it not been for this artificial protection it 

 would doubtless, in the more cultivated and open southern 

 portions of the country, have shared the fate that has befallen 

 the Wild Cat. In Scotland the Fox, according to Messrs. 

 Harvie-Brown and Buckley, is almost universally distributed 

 on the mainland ; but is absent from all the islands, with the 

 exception of Skye. There is, indeed, a statement that " the 

 Fox was at one time common in Mull, but has been long since 

 killed out " ; even, however, if this be true, it is most probable 

 that its occurrence there was due to accidental or intentional 

 importation. Of its occurrence in Ireland, Thompson, 

 writing more than forty years ago, observes that "the Fox, 

 like the Otter, is still found in suitable localities throughout 

 the island, wherever it can remain in spite of man. In many 

 parts of the country this species is abundant, but in no district 

 of which I am aware have so many been taken as on the 

 mountains in the south of the county of Down." 



It may be added that in the north of England the short- 

 legged race inhabiting the open low grounds is commonly 

 termed the "Terrier-Fox"; while to the larger long-legged and 

 long-muzzled mountain race the name of " Greyhound-Fox " is 

 applied. 



