Canid.e.- 



-MAMMALU.- 



-Canid.e. 



105 



biisli}', of a ycllowisli-grey colour, gradually tapering 

 towards the extrfuiity, where it is black. 



THE ABCTIC FOX {Vidpeslaoopus) is as commonly 

 known by the designation of Blue fox, on account of 

 its peculiar deep ashy, leaden, or bluish-coloured hair. 

 The fur varies much in appearance at dillerent periods 

 of the year, and according to the place of abode ; being 

 very commonly of a brownish-grey colour in some dis- 

 tricts, and in others sooty or almost black. In the 

 winter the fur usually becomes pure white or whitish- 

 yellow; but this is not invariably the case, as the sooty 

 variety is said scarcely to alter its colour in an)' respect ; 

 its texture is woolly, the individual hairs being com- 

 paratively long. The Arctic fox is considerably less 

 than our European species, the tail being well developed 

 and very bushy towards the tip. The ears are short 

 and ronndod, having a cropped appearance owing to a 

 peculiar arrangement of the hairs; the latter are par- 

 ticularly thick and long at the posterior part of the 

 cheeks. According to Captain Lyon, " the Arctic fox 

 is an extremely cleanly animal, being very careful not 

 to dirty those places in which he eats or sleeps. No 

 unpleasant smell is to be perceived, even in a male, 

 which is a remarkable circumstance. To come una- 

 wares ou one of these creatures is, in my opinion 

 impossible ; for even when in an apparently sound 

 Sleep, they open their ej-es at the slightest noise which 

 is made near them, although they paj no attention to 

 sounds when at a short distance. The general time of 

 rest is during the daylight, in which they appear Hstle.'^s 

 and inactive; but the night no sooner sets in than all 

 tlieir faculties are awakened ; they commence their 

 {:ainbols, and contimie in unceasing and rapid motion 

 until the moining. While hunting for food they are 

 mute ; but when in captivity or irritated, they utter a 

 short growl like that of a young puppy. It is a singu- 

 lar fact that their bark is so modulated, as to give an 

 idea that the ainmal is at a distance, although at the 

 very moment he lies at your feet." The same gentle- 

 man observes, that when taken they at first display 

 great anger, but after a few hours' confinement they 

 gradually cool down to a state of easy quietude ; 

 instances also occur where they have become quite 

 tame. The Arctic fox displays far less cunning than 

 our European species, and is not so suspicious of traps. 

 The female produces from three to five young at a birth. 

 This animal is an inhabitant of the sub-polar regions of 

 either division of the Northern hemisphere, being found 

 in North America, Lapland, Iceland, Siberia, and Kamt- 

 scliatka. We have also been informed by a Russian 

 gentleman from the neighbourhood of Archangel, that 

 the sport of hunting blue foxes is particularly excellent 

 in the large isles of Nova Zembla. Ordinarily, Arctic 

 foxes are captured by an elevated pit-fall, the pit con- 

 sisting of an elevated hut built up with stones, and 

 arched over, leaving only an aperture at the summit, 

 over which blades of whalebone are fixed in such a 

 manner as to insure the certain precipitation of the fox 

 into the interior, should the bait, also placed at the 

 upper part, successfully allure him on to the top of the 

 roof. In the young state, the flesh of the Arctic fox 

 is stated to be excellent eating. The fur is employed 

 as an article of commerce, the bluish or lead-coloured 

 Vol. I. 



variety being most esteemed. In the peculiar dialect 

 of the American Cree Indians, this animal rejoices in 

 the unutterably euphonious name of Wappcekcesheiv- 

 niakkccshcv: ! 



THE INDIAK FOX {Vulpes Beiigalensis).— Tins ia 

 a small and eh^gant species, having a brownish fur, 

 which is much darker along the middle line of the 

 back, forming a longitudinal sooty-coloured baud ; the 

 tiil is also tipped with black, and the species is further 

 distinguished by the presence of circular patches of 

 white round the eyes. According to the experienced 

 testimony of Captain Williamson, these foxes are 

 extremely numerous in India. In general their earths 

 arc placed on rising grounds, to prevent their being 

 inmidated. The holes are " remarkably small, and 

 may be opened in an hour by any common laboiu'er. 

 The foxes are very cmining, at least as much so as 

 their brethren in Europe. I have several times known 

 them, when pushed hard by greyhounds, to conceal 

 themselves in rice fields, or among bulrushes, &c., 

 with only their noses peeping out of the water. On 

 such occasions, unless there be some questing dog at 

 hand, Reynard will often escape unnoticed. Both 

 jackals and foxes sham death to admiration. After 

 having been almost pulled to pieces by dogs, and left 

 to all appearance lifeless, they sometimes gradually' 

 cock their ears, then look askance at the retiring 

 enemy, and, when they think themselves unobserved, 

 steal under a bank, &c., and thus skulk along till thi'v 

 find themselves safe, when, setting oft' at a trot or 

 canter, they make the best of their way to some place 

 of security." The Indian fox feeds principally on 

 small birds and quadrujjeds, especially rats, mice, and 

 such like vermin ; he is likewise partial to fowls, 

 poultry, and game, but to secure them he rarely 

 ventures within the walls of any village or town. 



THE JACKAL {Cunis aureus)— V\ate 8, fig. 27— 

 differs from the fox, in presenting a more dog-like 

 appearance. The fur exhibits a ruddy yellowish-grc}' 

 colour generally, being darker on the back, where it is 

 almost black. The throat and under parts of the belly 

 are much lighter. The ocular pupils are rounded, as 

 in dogs. The common Jackal is widely distributed 

 throughout eastern countries, being found in abund^aice 

 in Hindoostan, Persia, Tartary, the Caucasus, Dalniatia, 

 the Morca, Palestine, Egypt, and North Africa, as far 

 as the coast of Guinea. In respect of sii^e it is inter- 

 mediate between the fox and the wolf Its habits are 

 gregarious ; it hunts at night in packs, and, from its 

 piercing yells and destructive habits, is everywhere 

 regarded with horror. The united cry of a pack pro- 

 duces a most unearthly soimd, which has been compared 

 to the distant rolling of thunder. Captain Williamson 

 records many facts wdiich cleaily prove that jackals 

 will combine to defend or rescue one of their number. 

 Among these he mentions the following incidents : — 

 " Mr. Kinloch, who was well known as an excellent 

 sportsman, and who, when at Midnajiore, kept a famous 

 pack of hounds, having one morning chased a jackal, 

 which entered a thick jungle, found himself under the 

 necessity of calling off his dogs, in consequence of an 

 immense herd of jackals which had suddenly collected 

 on hearing the cries of their brother, which the hounds 







