76 CAENIVORA. 



this country. The best skins sometimes fetch 16s. per 

 skin. The usual price is much lower. 



The Tibetian Wolf (Canis laniger) is a climatic 

 variety of the Common Wolf- They are usually 'black. 



COMMON FOX. 



Canis vulpes, or perhaps Vulpes vulgaris. 

 French : Eenard du pays. German : Land Fuchs. 



The Common Fox is one of the most abundant fauna 

 of the British Islands ; it is found throughout the greater 

 part of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, and in 

 the Isle of Wight. It is best known for the sport which 

 it affords when hunted. ^ 



There are (1889) 152 packs of Fox-hounds in Eng- 

 land, 9 in Scotland, 16 in Ireland, 3 in Wales. Eegular 

 hunting commences about the middle of October, and 

 ends on the 1st of March. Hunting is often prolonged 

 to the first or second week in April. 



The younger hounds or drafts are trained by a course 

 of cub-hunting, which commences in September. 



Many interesting tales and stories are told about the 

 wiles and various tricks of the Fox when hard pressed, 

 such as taking refuge in out-houses, etc. A case is re- 

 corded in the Field of a Fox when driven from cover, 

 having climbed a tree covered with ivy, and disappeared 

 from sight. A man ascended the tree, shook the Fox 

 down, when he gave an excellent run of 30 minutes, 

 and ultimately escaped. 



Foxes have also been seen nestling on the bough of a 

 tree 30 feet from the ground. When hotly pursued, they 

 have been known to run on the tops of walls, hedges, etc., 



