FOXES. 



Vnlfes vulgaris. — var. Pennsylvanicus, Coues. Common Red Fox. 



Vulpes macrourus. — Baird. Prairie Fox. 



Vulpesvelox. — Aud. and Bach. Swift Fox, Kit Fox. 



Vulpes lagopus. — Ricli. Arctic Fox. 



Urocyon cinereo-argentattts, — Coues. Grey Fox, Virginia Fox. 



Urocyon littoralis. — Baird. Little Grey Fox, 



OF the species enumerated above it is necessary to speak only 

 of the Red Fox and the Grey. The others mentioned are 

 never hunted and are only taken by means of traps or poison ; they 

 do not therefore come within the scope of this work. 



The Red Fox is too well known to require description. He 

 differs but very little from his celebrated English relative to whose 

 capture so much time is devoted, on the other side the water, and 

 like him he proves a terrible pest to the farmer. There are several 

 permanent colors of this species analogous to the different colors 

 in our squirrels, young of very different appearance being found in 

 the same litter. The Cross Fox and the Silver-grey are the best 

 known of these differently-colored animals. 



The Grey Fox is a more southern species than the Red and is 

 rarely found north of the State of Maine. Indeed it is not common 

 anywhere in New England. In the Southern States, however, it 

 wholly replaces the Red Fox and causes quite as much annoyance 

 to the farmer as does that proverbial animal. The Grey Fox is 

 somewhat smaller than the Red and differs from him in being 

 wholly dark grey " mixed hoary and black." 



The Grey Fox differs from his northern cousin in being able to 

 climb trees. He is not much of a runner, and when hard pressed 

 by the dog will often ascend the trunk of a leaning tree by running 

 up it, or will even climb an erect one, grasping the trunk in his arms 

 as would a bear. Still the fox is not at home among the branches, 

 and he looks and no doubt feels very much out of place while in 

 this predicament. 



