230 COMMON FOX. 



species of the same generic group. The general form of 

 the body, and particularly the sharp elongated muzzle, 

 the elliptical pupil, and the full bushy tail — all of them 

 characteristic of every species of Fox — do not belong to 

 any of the true Dogs : we cannot, therefore, but consider 

 them as generically distinct. We may mention, as further 

 argument in support of the generic separation of Vulpes 

 from Canis, that the species of the former group retain, 

 although geographically separated, the same Fox-like 

 aspect and behaviour which we have attributed to our 

 English species. 



There is a general opinion amongst sportsmen that we 

 have more than one species of Fox, and we have even 

 heard this opinion warmly contended for. It is of course 

 needless for us to state that this is an error, and that the 

 so-called species which are severally denominated the 

 Greyhound, the Mountain, and the Bush or Cur Foxes, 

 are but varieties of the common species. We confess 

 ourselves, however, unable to explain whether these 

 varieties are due to locality, age, or sex. 



The figure of the Fox is slighter than that of the Wolf; 

 but it has less of ease and suppleness in its movements. 

 The muzzle is elongated, becoming very pointed towards 

 the apex ; the head round ; the ears erect and triangular ; 

 the eyes oblique, and the pupils elliptical or nearly linear 

 when exposed to the light of day, becoming round, or 

 nearly so, only in the dark ; the body is much elongated, 

 and the limbs short in proportion ; the tail is large, thick 

 and bushy, and so long that when pendant it touches the 

 ground. The colour, though principally fulvous, is a com- 

 bination of that colour with black and white, distributed 

 in various proportions on diiferent parts of the body. 

 The fulvous colour predominates on the head, the back, 

 the sides, the posterior parts of the limbs, and the sides 



