Fes., 1912. MamMaAts oF ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN—-CoRY. 301 
extent and intensity of the color variable; throat and greater por- 
tion of belly whitish; sides of nose and under jaw blackish; a ridge of 
black hairs extends down middle of upper surface of tail. 
Young pups have the muzzle blackish; the head grayish; the back 
of the ears fulvous at the base and dusky at the tip; tail with black 
tip. 
Measurements — Total length, about 35.50 in. (900 mm.); tail ver- 
tebre, about 11.50 in. (282 mm.); hind foot, 5.25 in. (133 mm.). 
The Gray Fox was formerly not uncommon in parts of Illinois, but 
of late years it seems to have become scarce in most localities except in 
the extreme southern portion of the state. In spite of repeated attempts 
to obtain specimens, I have been able to secure but one, a fine male 
from Petersburg, Menard Co. Mr. 5S. J. Miller of Millersville informs 
me they are occasionally killed in Christian County; they are reported 
to occur in more or less numbers in Hardin County by Mr. N. J. Aydlott 
of Rosiclare, and in Alexander County by Messrs. W. L. Conrad and 
Wm. Rabb of Olive Branch. Mr. John Johnson writes me it is found 
in the vicinity of Wolf Lake, Union Co. Mr. Howell states they were 
reported from Lick Creek, Union Co. (/. c., p. 32). Kennicott states 
that Gray Foxes were formerly not uncommon in Cook County,* but 
I have been unable to learn of their present occurrence in northern 
Illinois except in the extreme northern counties where Gray Foxes 
are reported as being occasionally taken. I have reliable information 
that several have been killed in Jo Daviess County, but have not seen 
specimens from that locality and it is probable they may prove to be 
the Wisconsin Gray Fox, U. c. ocythous. 
The Gray Fox prefers a wooded country away from settlements and 
upon the advent of civilization its numbers rapidly decrease. Its 
fondness for poultry doubtless equals that of the Red Fox, but it is 
seemingly less cunning, as it is more easily trapped or killed. In many 
parts of the South it makes its den in hollow trees or logs, more than 
in burrows in the ground; but in Illinois and Indiana, from what I 
have been able to learn, the majority live in burrows. Hahn says, in 
Indiana ‘‘the dens do not differ from those of the red fox but they 
are never placed out in the open fields as are those of the latter species.”’ 
(1. ¢., p. 550.) The young are born in March or early April, the num- 
ber usually varying from 4 to 6. They are practically omnivorous: 
their principal food consists of various species of Rodents, (Mice, Rats, 
Rabbits, etc.), but they also eat birds, eggs, some berries and occasional- 
ly dead fish, reptiles and insects. When chased by dogs they often 
seek refuge in low branched trees. I once shot a Gray Fox in a low 
pine tree where it had climbed among the branches about seven feet 
* Trans Ill. State Agr. Soc., I, 1853-54 (1855), p- 578. 
