7778 QuaJrupech. 



Common American Fox ( Vulpus fulves) : Red Fox (var. fiilvus). 

 Cross Fox (var. decussatus) and Silver Fox (var. argentatus) . — Hair 

 long, silky and soft. Tail very full, composed of an under fur, with 

 long hairs distributed uniformly along it. Tail with white tip. 

 Feet and ears black. Var. fulvus. — Reddish yellow; back be- 

 hind grizzled with grayish ; throat and narrow line on the belly 

 white ; ears behind and tips of caudal hairs (except terminal 

 brush) black. Var. decussatus. — Muzzle and under parts with 

 legs black ; tail blacker than in the other variety ; a dark 

 band between the shoulder, crossed by another over the shoulder. 

 Var. argentatus. — Entirely black, except on the posterior part of the 

 back, where the hairs are annulated with gray, this occasionally 

 wanting ; tail tipped with white. 



In treating on the different varieties of foxes I have spoken of it is 

 extremely difficult to mark the line where one ends and the other 

 commences. During my residence in these regions T have seen every 

 shade of colour among them, from a bright flame tint to a perfectly 

 black pelt, always excepting the tip of the tail, which in all cases is 

 white. Even the judgment of an experienced fur trader is sometimes 

 at fault to decide, in bartering, to which of the three varieties a skin 

 should belong, as they bear different prices. Still, notwithstanding 

 this, I consider these colours to have been produced by intermixture 

 of breed, the different varieties being, in my opinion, quite as distinct 

 as those of the human race ; and I do not think that any of the pro- 

 geny of two pairs of red foxes would be either black or cross. In 

 cohabiting the male foxes accompany the females in bands of from 

 three to ten, much in the manner of domestic dogs: at Durwegan, on 

 Peace River, I have repeatedly observed this. The males fight 

 violently for the possession of the females ; many are maimed and 

 some killed. A number of males thus, in all likelihood, cohabit with 

 the same female, which gives rise to the varieties of colour in a litter. 

 Instances are reported as having occun-ed in which all the varieties 

 were taken in one den, but of this I am rather doubtful. It is very 

 difficult to tell the future colour of cub foxes ; the red appear to be 

 cross, and the cross to be silver, which may have caused an error, 

 though I write under correction : I have seen many Indians even mis- 

 taken in this ; they have brought me live cub foxes for silver, which on 

 growing up proved to be cross. My own theory is that the silver fox 

 is the offspring of two silver parents, the cross of a silver and red, the 

 red of two reds, and the different shades being caused by fresh inter- 

 breeds. Thus two negroes will have neither white nor mulatto 



