128 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Vulpes lagopus (Linnaeus) Arctic fox 



1758 [C a n i s] lagopus Linnaens, Systema naturae, ed. 10. 1:40 (Lapland) 

 1854 Vulpes lagopus Audubon and Bachuian, Quadr. N. Am. 3 : 89. 



Fur dark bluish gray in summer, turning to pure white in winter; sooty black 

 individuals occasionally found. Total length, 1100 (43^) ; tail vertebrae, 350 

 (13f) ; hind foot, 145 (5f) ; ear, 45 (If). (1 ag 6 p u s; Gk., hare foot) 



The arctic fox occurs in the arctic regions of both hemispheres. 

 It ranges throughout northern Labrador and on the coast occasionally 

 reaches James bay and the strait of Belle Isle. 



Vulpes fulvus (Desmarest) Red fox 



Reddish ; feet and ears blackish ; tip of tail white ; ear j)ointed, about 80 (3^) 

 in length. The following color variations occur more commonly in the northern 

 part of the animal's range than elsewhere. The cross fox, like the last but with 

 a dark half ring on back of neck crossed by a dark line along middle of back. 

 The silver fox entirely silver gray. Thehlack fox entirely blackish. All of 

 these phases iatergrade with each other and with the red phase, (fulvus; 

 Lat., yellowish) 



The well known red fox ranges throughout the greater part of North 

 America south to the lower edge of the upper austral zone. Two sub- 

 species are known within our limits. 



SUBSPECIES OF VULPES FULVUS 



Upper parts tawny yellowish ; total length, 1000 



(39i) » V. fulvus fulvus 



Upper parts bright rust color; total length, 1080 



(42|) V. fulvus rubricatus 



Vulpes fulvus fulvus (Desmarest) Southeastern red fox 



1820 Can is fulvus Desmarest, Mammalogie. 1:203. (Virginia) 

 1842 Vulpes fulvus DeKay, Zoology of New York, Mammalia, p. 44. 



Back tawny yellowish, never strongly rust color: Total length, 1000 (39^); 

 tail vertebrae, 360 (14); hind foot, 150 (5f). (fulvus; Lat., yellowish) 



The southeastern red fox is common throughout the eastern United 

 States south to the lower edge of the upper austral zone. The northern 

 limits of range is not yet known. 



Vulpes fulvus rubricatus Bangs JVova Scotia red fox 



1897 Vulpes pennsylvaniea vafra Bangs, Proc. biolog. soc. Wash- 

 ington, p. 53. (not Canis vafer Leidy) 



1898 Vulpes pennsylvaniea rubric a ta Bangs, Science, n. s. 25 



Feb. 1898. 7 : 272. (DigbyN. S.) 

 Back hright rust color. Total length, 1080 (42^) ; tail vertebrae, 400 (15|) ; 

 hind foot, 160 (6^). (rubricatus; Lat., reddened) 



The Nova Scotia red fox is not at present known to occur outside of 



