THE BLACK OR SILVER FOX. 83 



very rare in the interior of the country ; and three pounds have been offered for the skin of one of 

 (In 1 former. 



THE RED POX.* 



'I'll is animal is not confined to the colder regions of America, but extends into the most aoutln'i-n 

 provinces of the United States, whore its peculiar characters remain unchanged. 



On comparing a fine specimen of the English fox with an American red fox, each has been 

 observed to have dark markings on the sides of the muzzle, posterior parts of the e.-irs, and fore part 

 qf the legs; the tails of both have an intermixture of black hairs, and are tipped with white. The 

 red fox, however, differs in its long and very fine fur, and in the brilliancy of its colours. Its cheeks 

 are rounder, its nose thicker, shorter, and more truncated; its eyes are nearer to each other; its ears 

 are shorter, the hair on its legs is a great deal longer ; and its feet are much more woolly beneath, the 

 hair extending beyond the claws, which are shorter than those of the European fox. The red fox has 

 a much finer brush than the European one, and is altogether a larger animal. 



The red foxes have been so abundant in the wooded districts of the fur countries, that thousands 

 of skins have been annually imported from thence into England. Like the European foxes, they 

 burrow in the earth during the summer, but prefer the shelter of a fallen tree during the winter, 

 probably because the severity of the climate would expose them to the danger of having their burrows 

 frozen up. They hunt chiefly during the night, and prey upon the smaller rodents ; but they also 

 devour fish and animal food of every kind, and are frequently seen abroad during the day. There 

 M'l'ins to be much difficulty in catching them, because of their extreme suspiciousness, which often renders 

 the precautions of the hunter unavailing. The traps which are set for them have assafoetida, castoreum, 

 and similar substances placed in them, of which the foxes arc said to be fond. When pursued, they 

 run very swiftly for a short distance, but their wind soon fails, and they are speedily overtaken. 



THE BLACK OR SILVER FOX.f 



THIS animal in its most perfect state is entirely of a pure shining black, with the exception of the tip 

 of the tail, which, as in other varieties, is white. More commonly, the fore part of the head, the sides 

 of the face, and the loins are grizzled by an intermixture of silver-tipped hairs, and there is frequently 



THE 111. Ac K oi; Ml.vl'.K FOX. 



also a white spot on the In-east. Its fur, which is very beautiful, fetches a much larger price than 

 any other fur produced in North America. It inhabits precisely the same districts as the preceding 

 species. 



* Canis fulvus. t Canis fulvus. Var. Argentatus. 



