THE GRASTOFUR. 257 



wards the tip, dull rufous, the tip itself black, and 

 the feet sepia brown; but we are inclined to refer 

 this to a variable fox, whose winter fur is white, 

 and the tip of the tail alone black. 



The Brant Fox of Pennsylvania, described by 

 Pennant, belongs also to the races with a black tip 

 to the tail. It is scarcely half the size of the common 

 fox, with a black nose, the head much sharper than 

 in that animal ; the space round the eyes is ferru- 

 ginous ; the forehead and upper surface of the body 

 black, mixed with red and ash colour, the ash co- 

 lour predominating; the tail is black above, red 

 beneath, and ash-coloured at the sides. 



We conclude the notice of the foxes, by men- 

 tioning an animal of Iceland which may not be a 

 canine ; it is known on the spot by the name of 

 Grastofur, and considered to be a fox, although it 

 does not molest either lambs or ptarmigan, and 

 feeds on the roots of grasses, on the angelica and 

 other vegetable substances. Being harmless in ha- 

 bits, the inhabitants take no pains to hunt it, and 

 the shepherds do not even allow their dogs to worry 

 it.* 



" * See Nemnich Polyglot der Natur in voce Canis Vulpes. 



