210 MOSTLY MAMMALS 
the same coat. In contrast with this, the case in which 
are placed the above-mentioned animals in their dark 
summer costume contains a specimen of the white phase 
of the Arctic fox in its dark summer coat. In this speci- 
men, the hair (which is much shorter than that of the 
example in the winter dress) is dirty rufous brown shading 
into grey on the upper-parts and outer side of the limbs, 
and yellowish white below. In other examples the colour 
of the upper-parts is greyer, while the under-parts are 
nearly pure white. Sometimes also, it is stated that grey 
hairs are largely mingled with the white winter coat, so 
that we have a more or less marked tendency towards the 
blue phase even in the winter dress. In all cases the 
muzzle remains black, and it is stated that there may 
occasionally be a black tail-tip in the white winter dress. 
I have not seen a “blue fox” in the summer dress, 
but am told that the coat is then chiefly distinguished 
from its winter condition by its much shorter hairs and 
less pure blue colour. 
Of course, the so-called “blue” of even the best skins 
is a slaty or French grey rather than a blue in the proper 
sense of the word, and in many instances it tends to drab 
or dark purplish. Alaskan blue fox, which is somewhat 
coarse in the texture of the fur, has this purplish or sooty 
tinge most strongly developed, and at one time was 
specially valued on this account, although of late years 
the lighter varieties seem to have been chiefly in demand. 
Lest any of my readers should be led to think that the 
Arctic fox is a near relative of the common species, it 
may be well to state, before going any farther, that it is 
a very distinct animal indeed. Apart from its coloration, 
the most distinctive features of the species are to be 
found in its short, rounded ears (which look almost as 
