AMERICAN CROSS FOX. 45 



difficult to take him in a trap of any kind. He eludes the snares laid for 

 him, and generally discovers and avoids the steel-trap, however carefully 

 covered with brush-'wood or grasses. 



In the Northern States, such as Pennsylvania and New- York, and in 

 New England, the rutting season of the Fox commences in the month of 

 February. During this period he issues a succession of rapid yells, like 

 the quick and sharp barking of a small dog. Gestation continues from 60 

 to 65 days. The cubs are from 5 to 9 in number, and like young puppies, 

 are born with hair, and are blind at birth. They leave their burrows 

 generally, when three or four months old, and in all predatory expeditions, 

 each individual goes singly, and plunders on his o^^^l account, and for 

 his own especial benefit. 



The Generic name is derived from the Latin word vulpes, a Fox. 



There are about twelve well-known species belonging to this Genus 

 — four of which exist in North America. 



VULPES FULVU S.— Desm : var. Decimalus.—PEmAyT. 



American Cross Fox. 



PLATE VI.— Male.— 5 Natural size. 



V. cruce nigra supra humeros, subtus liuea longitudinali nigra, auribus 

 pedibusque nigris. 



CHARACTERS. 



A cross on the neck and shoulders, and a longitudincd stripe on the under 

 surface, black ; ears and feet black. 



SYNONYMES. 



Renard Baree, Tsinantontongue, Sagard Theodat., Canada, p. 715. 

 European Cross Fox, var. B., Cross Fox, Pennant, Arct., Zool., vol. i., p. 46. 

 Cams Decussatus, Geoff., Coll. du Mus. 

 Canis Fulvus, Sabine, Franklin's Journal, p. 656. 



" " var. B., (decussatus) Rich., Fauna Boreali Americana, p. 93. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Form, agrees in every particular with that of the common red fox, ( V. 

 fulvus.) Fur, rather thick and long, but not thicker or more elongated 

 than in many specimens of the red fox that we have examined. Soles of 



