160 



Carnivora Fissipedia. 



They hunt their food at night, being most active in the 

 early morning Avhen all animal life is on the move, and 

 they have a better chance to secure the small animals and 

 birds with which they vary their diet of fruit, nuts and 

 eggs. 



Grey Fox. 



In the wild state foxes are monogamous. The male has 

 onl}^ one consort in a season, and while the young are 

 being reared he dutifully forages for them. In confine- 

 ment hoAvever one male sometimes has been mated suc- 

 cessfully with two or even three females. 



When born the young are small and Aveak, but if all is 

 well they grow rapidlj', and Avhen about six weeks old begin 

 to come out to ])lay and to lap a little milk, or to take an 

 occasional bit of solid food. If alloAved to do so they Avill 

 continue to nurse for nearly six months. They breed the 

 first season Avhen a little less than a year old, but usually 

 produce only tAA^o or three young. 



Foxes may all be distinguished from the Wolf or Dog 

 by their longer muzzles, and longer and more tufted tails. 

 Their upper incisors are also less sloping, and the pupils 

 of their eyes form a vertical fissure during the day. They 

 all diffuse a more or less fetid odor, dig burroAvs, and are 

 the most timid of the dog family, attacking none but the 

 Aveaker animals. 



As before stated, "in the red phase the Fox is entirely 

 rich fulvous, except restricted black markings on the feet 



