364 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



more, from rump to muzzle. Its medium height is about 

 one foot. A fawn colour intermixed with black and white 

 constitutes its characteristic hue. The fawn predominates 

 on the head, along the spinal column, the flanks, the poste- 

 rior part of the limbs, and the sides of the tail. Grayish- 

 fawn sprinkled with white prevails on the thighs and shoul- 

 ders. The under part of the neck and breast anteriorly, a 

 kind of half collar at the bottom of the neck, and a narrow 

 spot commencing at the internal angle of the eye, and de- 

 scending towards the throat, are black. But it is super- 

 fluous to dilate on the colours of so well-known an animal. 



The coat is thick, especially on the tail and back. In 

 winter the woolly hairs are more abundant than the silky, 

 and at that season the fur is more valuable. In summer 

 the silky hairs predominate, and their number is not great. 



The physiognomy of the Common Fox, its slender muz- 

 zle, large head, and shortness of limbs, in comparison of 

 the body, are well known. With one exception, the orga- 

 nization of the Fox and Dog are precisely similar. This 

 exception is the eye, which in the Fox resembles that of 

 our domestic Cat, and not that of the Dog. The pupil con- 

 tracts in a strong light, and appears only a narrow and lon- 

 gitudinal section. It opens and assumes a circular form 

 only during twilight or night. This animal consequently, 

 like the Cat, avoids the light, and prefers obscurity and 

 darkness. 



The Fox has been always known. The Greeks named 

 it Alopex, and the Latins Vulpes. This last name has 

 been most usually given to it by authors since the restora- 

 tion of letters. Gesner and Johnston have given very good 

 figures of it, and those of Buffon and Schreber are very 

 exact. Its scientific name is Canis Vulpes. 



A variety of the Fox has been found, principally in Bur- 

 gundy and Alsace, and described as distinct under the name 

 of Alopex. Its colour is somewhat of a deeper red, and its 



