394 MAMMALIA. 



necessary to make a reserve. Its sanguinary instincts are in- 

 vincible ; the desire for blood is a necessity of its nature. "We 

 might, perhaps, succeed in entirely banishing these instincts by 

 submitting the animal to prolonged domestication during succes- 

 sive generations, but it cannot be brought about by a few years' 

 training. This is the reason why it is so difficult to keep an adult 

 Fox ; the depredations that it never ceases to commit are a con- 

 tinual source of embarrassment to its owner, who at last, to end 

 the annoyance, ultimately gets rid of it. 



The flesh of the Fox exhales so repulsive an odour that it is 

 even repugnant to manj^ animals. Some people, however, use it, 

 principally those in vine-growing districts, where it feeds on 

 grapes. It is stated that this offensive smell can be readily got 

 rid of by exposing the flesh to a freezing temperature. 



Hitherto we have been treating of the Red Fox. In America 

 it is also known, being found from the 35° to the 55° parallel of 

 latitude, and from the Atlantic seaboard to the Mississippi River ; 

 also in Oregon and British Columbia. There is a slight dif- 

 ference in colouring between the European and American, which 

 some naturalists have taken advantage of to consider as just 

 cause for classing them as representatives of different species. 

 In our opinion, no pretext is obtainable to deem them other- 

 wise than varieties. The Black Fox, so valuable for its fur, 

 belongs to the Red Fox family, and is only a chance production ; 

 in the same litters, occasionally, cubs both black and red having 

 been found. The nobles of Russia, the mandarins of China, and 

 the khans of Tartary value a Black Fox skin above all furs, and 

 the price that a perfect pelt in prime condition fetches is fabiilous. 

 Russia, Siberia, and the colder regions of North America alone 

 produce this valuable animal, and they are so much sought after 

 that but for the severity of the climate few would continue to 

 exist. 



The Arctic or Blue Fox inhabits the whole extent of both 

 continents beyond the 69*^ of latitude ; that is to say, Russia, 

 Siberia, and the high regions of North America. The pelage of 

 this species is very long, soft, and thick, and is sometimes white, 

 frequently of a grey slate colour with a tinge of blue. It is the 

 object of a considerable trade. 



This animal differs considerably from the ordinary Fox in 



