SMALL WILD ANIMALS 55 



A fox run should be of size sufficient to give the animal 

 plenty of space, and not merely a box with a wire front. 

 The wire must be strong and small in mesh. It must be 

 sunk in the ground to prevent digging under, and have an 

 overhang so that the occupant cannot climb over. A shelter 

 of some sort should be included. If it is found necessary to 

 confine the fox in small quarters, the cage must be cleaned 

 frequently or it will become unbearable. 



Foxes are chiefly carnivorous, of course, and meat, pref- 

 erably partly cooked, should form the chief article of diet. 

 Small animals and birds, vegetables and bread, complete the 

 menu. 



The foxes belong to the family Canid^, of the order 

 Carnivores, or meat-eaters. A great many species are 

 found in various parts of the world, but only two are known 

 in eastern North America. 



The most common species of the East is the Red Fox 

 (Vulpes fulvus). The typical specimen is reddish-yellow, 

 the tip of the tail and the underparts being white and the 

 ears and feet marked with black. The Cross, Black and 

 Silver Foxes are simply melanistic phases of the common 

 form, and not, as commonly supposed, distinct species. 



The Raccoon 



Of North American mammals the raccoon is one of the 

 most suitable for a pet. Wild-caught specimens are diffi- 

 cult to tame, and are hardly worth while. But if taken 

 while very young and carefully reared, the raccoon remains 



I as gentle as a kitten. It is best confined by means of a 

 collar and light chain, and should be kept well away from 

 poultry, for which it has an insatiable appetite. If it is 

 found necessary to confine the creature, the cage should be 



