244 



VERTEBRATA. 



ft., -v^ 



THE GRAY FOX. 



a black longitudinal stripe on the under surface. In size, form, and lace, it resembles the red 

 fox, of which it is a variety. Its skin formerly sold for twenty-five dollars: at present it is only 

 worth three times thai of the common red fox. This animal is found from Nova Scotia w estward 

 across Maine, Vermont, New Eampshire, New York, and Canada, and northward to Labrador. 



The Swift Fox or Kjtfox, V. velox, is a small, slender species, generally of a gray color. In 

 form it resembles the red fox, and in color the gray fox. It is a beautiful animal, runs with 









THE AMEUICAN CKOS3 FOX. 



greal swiftness, and, if pursued, doubles and winds with admirable skill and alertness. It lives 

 in deep burrows, and is found on the plains and prairies on both sides of the Rocky Mountains, 

 aboul latitude t9°. 



The Silver Fox or Black Fox, V. argentatus, of America, is generally regarded as only a 

 variety of the common fox, but Gervais considers it as probably a distinct species. It re- 

 sembles the variety called Black Fox of Europe. The size is that of the common fox, the ftu 

 edingly long, soft, and rich ; and, although presenting great variety in the different species, is 

 gem rally ,-ilvery black, sometimes with a chocolate tinge, the tip of the tail always white. The 



frontal part of the. cranium has a ] uliar lyre-shape, distinguishing it from every other species. 



This animal is found from Hudson's Bay to Pennsylvania, but it is everywhere exceedingly scarce. 



