254 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 
wolf, and a small wolf may be termed a fox. Commend us 
to consistency,—say I! 
The genus vulpes of Cuvier is now established,—has become 
a fixed fact of science among us, as it ought to have been 
considered long ago! The other two species, beside the 
Gray and Red, which go to make up the complement of four 
. assigned to North America, are the Swift Fox and the Arctic 
Fox. 
The Swift Fox inhabits the Missouri and Platte Rivers, 
west to the Rocky Mountains. It is a very extraordinary 
creature. Although the smallest of American foxes, it is by 
far the fleetest. In traversing the wild region where it is 
native, I heard from the hunters and trappers most marvel- 
ous tales of its swiftness, some of which placed it even along- 
side the horse and antelope in this respect, and far beyond 
any other animal on the plains. These stories are to be 
taken with considerable allowance. I saw it frequently, but 
- had no fair opportunity of testing its speed thoroughly —though 
there is one observation which ‘I made, that may be worth 
giving in this connection. 
The vast bare extent and undulating surface of those plains 
seem to have had a somewhat remarkable effect in developing 
powers of flight and pursuit, in most of the creatures inhabiting 
them, and more particularly in the smaller ones; and there is 
quite as much of this exaggerated story-telling to be met with 
‘upon the lips of these same wandering hunters and trappers, 
with regard to the great-eared rabbit of the plains further 
South. This animal is represented by them as a miracle of 
speed; and I am, from my own observation, disposed to give 
a large proportion of credit to their representations. 
I have witnessed in them such astonishing power of getting 
over the ground, that they almost seemed to defy pursuit. 
It was “more like flying than running,” as the hunters say. 
The total absence upon these wild plains of any of those 
facilities for concealment, refuge or escape, which are afforded 
