82 WINTER SUNSHINE 



the gray fox and the red fox, though there are five 

 or six varieties. The gray fox, which is much 

 smaller and less valuable than the red, is the South- 

 ern species, and is said to be rarely found north of 

 Maryland, though in certain rocky localities along 

 the Hudson they are common. 



In the Southern States this fox is often hunted 

 in the English fashion, namely, on horseback, the 

 riders tearing through the country in pursuit till the 

 animal is run down and caught. This is the only 

 fox that will tree. When too closely pressed, in- 

 stead of taking to a den or hole, it climbs beyond 

 the reach of the dogs in some small tree. 



The red fox is the Northern species, and is rarely 

 found farther south than the mountainous districts 

 of Virginia. In the Arctic regions he gives place 

 to the Arctic fox, which most of the season is white. 



The prairie fox, the cross fox, and the black or 

 silver-gray fox, seem only varieties of the red fox, 

 as the black squirrel breeds from the gray, and the 

 black woodchuck is found with the brown. There 

 is little to distinguish them from the red, except 

 the color, though the prairie fox is said to be the 

 larger of the two. 



The cross fox is dark brown on its muzzle and 

 extremities, with a cross of red and black on its 

 shoulders and breast, which peculiarity of coloring, 

 and not any trait in its character, gives it its name. 

 They are very rare, and few hunters have ever seen 

 one. The American Fur Company used to obtain 

 annually from fifty to one hundred skins. The 



