206 THE FOX 



indeed, we know that there is in the so-called silver 

 fox every variety of colouring from a light grey up to 

 an almost jet black— always, however, in the choice 

 specimens with a well-developed white tag to the 

 brush. Most of the American foxes are rather larger 

 than their European relatives. The most typical 

 black-fox skin is one with black hairs, most of 

 which are ringed with white. The pads are black, so 

 are the under parts of the body, and the brush is 

 large and bushy with a white tag. Very little is 

 known of these foxes, but some light was thrown on 

 them by a quotation from a Russian observer, which 

 was translated in the 'Field' (vol. 97, February 1, 

 1902), where the writer records that on an estate in 

 West Gothland he has seen black foxes catching rats 

 in open day. The tracks of the foxes were frequently 

 followed, but in no case was a trace of fur or feather 

 found. We are not told, however, what game was 

 most common in the district. The writer found the 

 earths of two vixens, and four cubs were taken alive. 

 They refused birds, but fed readily on milk, rats, 

 and meat. These cubs were extraordinarily quarrel- 

 some, and by digging under the partitions of the 

 cage in which they were confined, they got at one 

 another and fought so fiercely that ' none of them 

 survived.' 



