18 



mally colored parents. They have no special geographical distribution, although, on 

 the whole, both kinds are rather northerly than otherwise, the Silver Foxes especially 

 so. It does not appear to be ascertained exactly how far the styles of pel«.go tend to 

 perpetuate themselves; that is to say, in what proportion of oases a cross will produce 

 a cross litter, or a black a black litter; but the iuter-breediug of the several varieties, 

 and their purely accidental origin, from pareots of the normal coloration are inoontest- 

 ible."— [Cones and Yarrow, Zool. Epl., W. 100 Merid., V. 1875, 53.] 



The same authorities state there is no reasonable question of the 

 specific identity of the American and European Red Fox. The same 

 color variations occur in both. Prof Baird (Mam. N. A., 1857, p. 130) 

 surmises, from the absence of any fossil remains of the Red Fox in the 

 Carlisle (Penn.) and other bone caves, in which the Gray Fox is abund- 

 antly represented, that there is basis for the somewhat prevalent belief 

 that the Red Fox of Eastern America is the descendant of the European Pox 

 imported and run wild many years ago, as did the horses imported and 

 set at liberty by the Spaniards. This might account for its abundance 

 in settled districts, but scarcely allows time for its universal distribution 

 over a continent. Coues and Yarrow (Zool. Expl., W. 100 Merid., V. 1875, 

 54) think it a more reasonable hypothesis that, with many other Ameri- 

 can mammals, it had an original circumpolar distribution in warmer 

 times, and has spread southward in both hemispheres, developing geo- 

 graphical distinctions of race, but not distinct species. The differences, 

 as observed by Audubon, are all comparative, and not positive. With 

 ample opportunity for comparison, he says the American Red Fox "is a 

 little the largest ; its legs are less robust ; its nose shorter and more 

 pointed; the eyes nearer together; its feet and toes more thickly clothed 

 with fur ; its ears shorter ; it has a finer and larger brush ; and its fur is 

 much f offer, finer, and of a brighter color." 



Dimensions of any of the American Vahietibs. 



Nose to root of tail 2-2 j- feet. 



Tail to end of bones 12-16 inches. 



Tail to end of hairs 15-19 " 



Height of ear 2f-2f " 



Height at shoulders 12-13 " 



Skull, in length and width 5^x3 " 



Regarding the occurrence of the Red Fox in Ohio, and its taking the 

 place of the Gray Fox, Dr. Kirtland writes as follows : 



C. {Vulpes) fulvus. — "The Red Fox was unknown in this region of country until the 

 introduction of the whUe population, and is supposed by manynoi to have been originally 

 a native of America. It has now become a common and troublesome inhabitant." 



