250 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 



belief of the existence of so many species, are not at all 

 extraordinary or peculiar ; and, indeed, this is the com- 

 mon cause of a vast and unnecessary accession of species, 

 which so complicates and involves the whole history of quad- 

 rupeds. Where such differences are not owning to age or 

 sex, they are frequently to the accidents of disease, locality, 

 climate, &c. I once saw three cubs taken from the bed of a 

 Gray Fox, two of which were white as milk, and the other 

 gray. It would have been very wise of me to have announced 

 the discovery of a new species on the strength of these 

 Albinoes ! 



There is a curious and interesting case in point, given from 

 the personal experience of Dr. Bachman, the editorial asso- 

 ciate of Mr. Audubon in the " Quadrupeds." After pre- 

 mising that the swiftness of the animal has most probably 

 been greatly exaggerated, he says : 



In regard to the cunning of this variety, there may be 

 some truth in the general opinion, but this can be accounted 

 for on natural principles ; the skin is considered very valuable, 

 and the animal is always regarded as a curiosity ; hence the 

 hunters make every endeavor to obtain one when seen, and 

 it would not be surprising if a constant succession of attempts 

 to capture it, together with the instinctive desire for self-pre- 

 servation possessed by all animals, should sharpen its wits 

 and render it more cautious and wild than those species that 

 are less frequently molested. "VYe remember an instance of 

 this kind, which we will here relate. 



A Cross Fox, nearly black, was frequently seen in a par- 

 ticular cover. "We offered what was in those days considered 

 a high premium for the animal in the flesh. The Fox was 

 accordingly chased, and shot at by the farmers' boys in the 

 neighborhood. The autumn and winter passed away, nay, 

 a whole year, and still the Fox was going at large. It Avas 

 at last regarded by some of the more credulous, as possess- 

 ing a charmed life, and it was thought that nothing but a silver 



