THE RED FOX, AND VAEIETIES 



35 



The Red Fox.' — Of the many handsome and 

 valuable species of foxes inhabiting North 

 America, our wise old friend, the Red Fox, is 

 the one most widely distributed, and the best 



Sambobn, Photo. , N. Y. Zoological Park. 

 RED FOX. 



known. Between the southern AUeghenies and 

 Point Barrow it appears in coats of many dif- 

 ferent shades, but everywhere it is recognizable 

 by the prevailing yellowish-red color from which 

 it derives its name. It is palest in the desert 

 regions, where shade is scarce, and brightest 

 in the forest regions and Alaska, where the 

 bleaching power of the sun is not so great. The 

 largest and finest skins come from Alaska. 



The range of the Red Fox is very wide. From 

 North Carolina and Tennessee it extends through 

 the whole northeastern United States, westward 

 to Montana and northward to the limit of trees. 

 It is the most common fox in Alaska, wherever 

 there are trees. It is so cunning, and so well 

 able to take care of itself, even in populous coun- 

 tries, that it refuses to be exterminated. The 

 length of an average specimen is 24 -I- 13 

 inches; height, 13 inches. 



There is little pleasure to be derived from 

 foxes kept in captivity as pets. They are very 

 nervous, easily frightened, and, as a rule, are 

 totally lacking in all the sentiments which re- 

 semble affection. Nevertheless, we have seen, 

 and also owned, Red Foxes that were tame, 

 and trustworthy when handled. 



The Cross Fox is really a color phase of the 



red fox, marked by black legs and under parts, 



a dark-colored cross on the shoulders, steel-gray 



body and head, and a big black tail with a snow- 



' Vul'pes ful'vus. 



white tip. There is a reddish patch behind the 

 fore-leg, and another on the side of the neck. 

 In my opinion a really typical Cross Fox is the 

 handsomest fox in the world, far more beautiful 

 than the much-sought "silver fox." Some 

 da}- it will attract the appreciation it deser^'es, 

 and be sought accordingly. It stands between 

 the red and the black foxes, and grades into 

 both. It is found in Manitoba, .41berta, British 

 Columbia, and Alaska, and occasionally in Idaho 

 and Utah. 



The Black Fox, commonly called the "Sil- 

 ver Gray" Fox (although there is no silvery color 

 about it, save its tail-tip), enjoys the distinction 

 of ha^•ing the highest price on his head that 

 is offered for any fur-bearer. In March, 1900, 

 a single skin of this animal sold at auction in 

 London for $2,784; and it is not at all uncom- 

 mon for extra fine skins to sell in this country at 

 from $600 to $1,200. They are worth so much 

 as furs for the very wealthy that zoological 

 gardens cannot afford to purchase live speci- 

 mens for exhibition. Their exhibition value 

 is far below their fur value. 



Like the cross fox, this is only a color phase 

 of the typical red fox, but commercially the 

 two forms are so distinct, and so sharply defined 

 in dollars and cents, that thej^ demand separate 

 notice. 



Drawn by J. Carter Bea 



BLACK, OR SILVER FOX. 

 A subspecies of the Red Fox. 



With the exception of its snow-wliite tail-tip, 

 and a few scattering white hairs on the top of 

 the hind cjuarters, a typical Black Fox is jet 

 black. This form inhabits the same localities 

 as the cross fox, and is much given to mixing 

 with it, which causes many variations from their 



