same habit, moreover, causes a certain modification of the animal's range 

 with the settling of a country; in clearing o3 forests the Gray Fox 

 is forced to seek elsewhere; although in effect the circumstances that cause 

 removal of one species are precisely those that invite the other, the Red 

 Fox being able to exist in settled regions where the other could find no 

 Kuitable resorts. It is this that makes the Red a greater nuisance to the 

 farmer: it sticks close to the farm-yard, being forced, in a measure, to 

 thus suppl}' itself, owing simply to its being in more cultivated districts. 

 The Gray Fox subsists more extensively upon the wild game of his habi- 

 tat. Another distinctive feature is the climbing powers of the Graj^ Fox, 

 much greater than would be expected from an animal with non-retractile 

 claws, and no great "hugging" powers. "When hard pressed the Gray 

 Fox is treed as regularly as the Red is earthed. The climbing seems 

 to be simply an agile leaping along an inclined trunk, or from bough to 

 bough, though it has been noted that the animal can climb a small 

 trunk 'by clasping, or even with its claws like a cat or raccoon." 



FAMILY MUSTELIDiE. 



The Muatelidse are a strictly defined family of carnivorous mammals, 

 of which the Weasels and Martens are the typical representatives. It 

 includes, also, the Skunks, Badgers, and Otters. Species of the family 

 are found in all parts of the earth, excepting the Australian region. 

 The genera 'and species are most abundant and differentiated in the 

 Northern Hemisphere (Arctogsea), where the group attains its most per- 

 fect development. The most generally distributed and inclusive genus 

 in both hemispheres, is Putorius, the tiue Weasels, although some twenty 

 genera are recognized altogether. 



The ei.>mmereial importance of the family is indicated by the high 

 price Set on tbe pelt of the Otter, Sable, Ermine, and others. 



In 1868, the Hudson's Bay Company sold over 100,000 Sables, 73,000 

 Mink, 14,000 Otters, 6,000 Skunks, 1,100 Wolverines, 1,500 Badgers, 123 

 Seat Otteis. Beside these, many were handled by other companies. 



They ])OSspss other relations to man worthy of observatioa. Mink 

 and Weasels are destructive to poultry. The foetid liquid secreted by 

 the anal glands of most Mustelina^, is the means of offense and defense 

 in the Skunks, ranking them among the most disgusting and offensive 

 of animals; and tfhey may, moreover, b}' their bite, occasion one of the 

 most horrible diseases (^Rabies mephitica) to which the race is liable. The 

 Wolverine is the worst enemy of the fur hunter, destroying his traps 

 and game. The cruel method of hunting the Badger has added a verb 

 to the language; indeed, it may be said there is scarcely a family of un- 



