870 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



like them, its displeasure, by growling. When it has sa- 

 tisfied its hunger, it conceals the rest of his aliments, lies 

 down, and goes to sleep. Its odour is extremely disagree- 

 able, but differs a little from that of the Common Fox. The 

 exhaustion which it suffers from heat, sufficiently indicates 

 the countries of which it is a native. 



Almost all authors, who have travelled in the northern 

 parts of the old world, speak of Black Foxes, which has led 

 to an opinion, in which there appears probability, that 

 the species which we have been just describing is to be 

 found in both continents. Some doubt, however, must be 

 preserved respecting their identity, until such time as it 

 shall be confirmed by new observations, and a more exact 

 comparison of characters. The relations of travellers, 

 hitherto, are deficient in the degree of precision necessary 

 for such a purpose. 



The Cross Fox (Canis Decussatus) is described by Geoffroy, 

 as a South American animal, of the size of the Common 

 Fox. The fur is variegated with black and white, which 

 gives a gray appearance to the upper part of the body, and 

 it has a black transversal stripe over the shoulders : the 

 muzzle, lower part of the body, and paws, are black : the 

 flanks and parts about the anus have a yellow tinge : the 

 extremity of the tail is grayish-white. 



This animal, in all probability, is a mere variety of the 

 Canis Argentatus of Geoffroy. 



The Arctic Fox {Canis Lagopus) exhibits, in a remark- 

 able degree, the mutation of colour which Polar animals 

 generally undergo on the change of seasons. 



It is an inhabitant of the mountainous and open coun- 

 tries of the Arctic region, where it burrows underground, 

 during the short time that the earth is soft enough for this 

 purpose. 



There was one brought from Spitzbergen by Captain 

 Ross, when on his voyage of discovery. The animal looks 



