AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 



27 



Besides the chase, various means are resorted to, for the 

 purpose of destroying these mischievous animals, which, 

 though sometimes successful, often fail, from their extreme 

 cunning, which enables them to avoid the best concerted 

 schemes for their capture. Even when taken in a steel 

 trap, it is said that they will saerifice a limb to escape — 



"by the indented steel 

 With gripe tenacious held, the felon gineves, 

 And struggles, but in vain, yet oft 'tis known. 

 When ev'ry art has fail'd, the capti^-e Fox 

 Has shar'd the wounded joint, and with a limb 

 Compounded for his life." — BomervUle. Clw.se. 



The fur is valuable and much sought for, particularly 

 that of the black or silver Fox, which sells for six times 

 the price of any otlier, that is produced in North America. 

 La Hontan speaks of a black Fox skin as being, in his time, 

 worth its weight in gold. 



The different species of Fox are involved in much con- 

 fusion. There are few animals of which travellers have 

 spoken more, and yet there are scarcely any whose history 

 has been treated of with less precision and method. As 

 far as our researches have extended, the following appear 

 to be the well determined species and varieties. As re- 

 gards those of North America, we have followed Dr. Ricli- 

 ardson, who has paid particular attention to them, and 

 whose acuteness and industry, deserves the thanks of 

 every naturalist. 



1. Canis (Vulpes) Vulgaris. Common Fox. 



Var. a. V. alopex. Brant Fox. 



b. V. crucigera. European cross Fox. 



2. V. lagopus. Arctic Fox. 



Var. a. V. fuliginosus. Sooty Fox. 



3. V. fulvus. Red Fox. 



Var. a. V. decussatus. American cross Fox. 

 b. V. argentatus. Black, or silver Fox. 



4. V. Virginianus. Gray Fox. 



5. V. cinereo-argentatus. Swift Fox. 



6. V. corsac. Corsac Fox. 



Var. a. V. Karag^n. Desert Fox. 



7. V. Niloticus. Egyptian Fox. 



There are a variety of other nominal species which we 

 have omitted, not being able to satisfy ourselves respecting 

 them. It is astonishing how little care is taken by travel- 

 lers, to ascertain the proper names of the animals they 

 describe in their journals, even when the means of infor- 

 mation is within their reach. The history of the various 

 species of the animal kingdom can only be the result of a 

 long series of observations, which it is utterly impossible 

 for a single individual to make. Hence, if travellers 

 describe the same animal under different names, it loads 

 science with a host of unnecessary species, and retards in- 

 stead of advancing the progress of inquiry. 



The red Fox is an inhabitant of most parts of our conti- 

 nent, but appears to occur in the greatest numbers to the 

 north; they are so abundant in what are termed the fur 

 countries, that Dr. Richardson says, that about eight thou- 

 sand are annually imported into England from thence. 

 They are, however, by far too numerous in the United 

 States, giving manifest proofs of their presence in their 

 depredations on the poultry yards. 



The general colour of this species in its summer coat, is 

 " bright ferruginous on the back, head, and sides, less bril- 

 liant towards the tail; under the chin white; the throat 

 and neck a dark gray; and this colour is continued along 

 the first part of the belly in a sti-ipe of less width than on 

 the breast; the under parts, towards the tail, are very pale 

 red; the fronts of the fore legs and feet are black, (or dark 

 brown,) and the fronts of the lower parts of the hind legs 

 are also black; the tail is very bushy, but less ferruginous 

 than the body, the hairs mostly terminated with black, and 

 more so towards the extremity than near the root, giving 

 the whole a dark appearance; a few of the hairs at the end 

 are lighter, but it is not tipped with white." — Sabine. 

 The colour of the tip, however, differs much; in some 

 specimens, the white being very distinct, whilst in others 

 this tint is scarcely discernible. This summer coat is long, 

 fine, and brilliant, as winter approaches it gradually be- 

 comes longer and denser, even the soles of the feet being 

 completely covered with fur, which wears off in the sum- 

 mer, leaving naked callous spots. 



It bears a strong resemblance to the common Fox of 

 Europe, and was considered identical with that species 

 until De Beauvois pointed out its differences. These, as 

 stated by Dr. Richardson, are, that the American species 

 has longer and finer fur, and is more brilliant in its colours. 

 Its cheeks are rounder, its nose thicker, shorter, and more 

 truncated. Its eyes are nearer to each other. Its ears are 

 shorter, the hair on its legs is longer, and the feet more 

 covered with fur, its tail is also fuller and finer. The 

 colour of the breast is more inclined to a gray, and that of 

 the anterior part of the legs of a darker brown, being 

 nearly black. Desmarest likewise mentions, that tiiere is a 

 difference in the form of the skulls of the two species. 



As there still exists no slight difference of opinion, as to 

 whether this animal is a native; many persons considering 

 that it is merely the European species which has become 

 naturalized, whilst others appear to think that there are 

 two distinct varieties, closely resembling each other, the 

 one native and the other introduced; we will examine the 

 grounds of the various hypotheses, before entering on a 

 description of the habits and manners of the subject of our 

 sketch. In doing this, we have thought it would be satis- 

 factory to our readers, to cite the various authorities we 

 have had occasion to consult on each side of the question. 



