ORDER CARNASSIER. 43 



as far as Guinea. It is a voracious animal, 

 which hunts after the manner of a dog, and 

 seems to resemble him more nearly than any 

 other wild species in conformation and facility 

 of being tamed. 



The Foxes may be distinguished from the wolves 

 and dogs by a longer and more tufted tail, by a more 

 pointed muzzle, by pupils calculated for nocturnal 

 vision *, and by upper incisives less sloping. They 

 diffuse a fetid odour, dig themselves burrows, and 

 only attack weak animals. This sub-genus is more 

 numerous than the preceding. 



The common Fox. (Canis Vulpes, L.) Buff. VII. vi 



More or less red, the end of the tail white. 

 Is spread over most climates from Sweden even 

 to Egypt. Those of the north are distinguished 

 only by a more brilliant fur. We observe no 

 constant difference between those of the Old 

 Continent and those of North America. The 

 Coal Fox (Canis Alopex) Schreb. XCL, which 

 has the end of the tail black, and is found in the 

 same countries as the common, and The Cross 

 Fox (id. XCL A.), which is distinguished only 

 by a streak of black along the spine and over 

 the shoulders, are probably but varieties of the 

 common fox. But the following species are 

 very distinct. 



* The Baron seems to conclude that elongated pupils are adapted 

 for nocturnal habits, a conclusion which we have elsewhere ven- 

 tured to think unfounded. — Ed. 



