49 



In the fall of 1892, while quail hunting in a place known 

 as "Meadow Hollow" in the neighborhood of Kensico, I 

 shot several quail as they rose hi succession. Afterwards in 

 searching for the fallen birds, I observed an animal dodging 

 through the tall grass, which I at first took to be one of my 

 dogs. But following it with my eyes I saw it finally emerge 

 on the edge of the swamp and to my surprise it proved to be 

 a Gray Fox and hi his mouth a quail, which was probably one 

 of my dead birds. 



Vulpes fulvus Desmarest. Red Fox. 



The reputation which the fox has possessed from time 

 immemorial is perhaps a sufficient apology for his presence 

 among us at the present day. Behig fleet of foot, chiefly 

 nocturnal hi habit, and exhibiting great sagacity when pursued 

 by hounds or when an attempt is made to trap him, the Red 

 Fox will probably exist in the comity for many years to come. 

 At the present date he continues his noctivigations even 

 within the limits of the city of New York. In the central 

 portion of the comity the Red Fox is still probably as abun- 

 dant as anywhere within the state, and keeps up his reputa- 

 tion as a thief by varying his usual diet of mice, rabbits, etc., 

 with an occasional fowl stolen from the poultry yard. This 

 propensity for robbing the hen roost seems to be greater in 

 this species than in the preceding and prevails chiefly when 

 the young are being raised. At this period the entrance to 

 the fox burrow presents somewhat the appearance of an open- 

 air burial ground for birds and mammals. I have seen the 

 remains of numbers of ducks, chickens, hares, woodchucks, 

 and even skunks collected for the consumption of the young 

 foxes. 



I have never met with the black phase of this fox in West- 

 chester County. 



