THE FOX. 333 



direction, the pupils assuming the figure of a section of a double 

 convex lens. The object of this provision is evidently to exclude 

 the rays of light in a much greater degree than would be com- 

 patible with the structure of a circular pupil, and it is con- 

 sequently only found in those nocturnal animals in which the 

 faculty of vision is capable of being exercised through the medium 

 of a comparatively small proportion of light. 



As regards the occasional variation in the colour of the fur, it 

 may be remarked that Foxes, as a rule, do not vary much in 

 this respect. Bell has noticed (p. 231) an individual taken in 

 Warwickshire that had all the under parts of a greyish-black 

 hue, and, being scarcely full-grown, it was thought that with age 

 the dark parts would have assumed their ordinary colour. 



In July, 1889, a Fox was seen in the New Forest, which, at 

 a little distance, appeared to be uniformly black, except the 

 under parts, which were much greyer (Zool. 1890, p. 17), and 

 Mr. Aplin has noticed the occasional appearance of a blackish 

 variety in Oxfordshire (Zool. 1890, p. 97). 



White Foxes have been met with in Germany > and on two 

 occasions in Somersetshire (Zool. 1886, pp. 104, 331). In one 

 of these, which was critically examined after death by the late 

 Mr. Cecil Smith, of Bishops Lydeard, near Taunton, it was par- 

 ticularly noticed that the eyes were of the normal colour, and not 

 pink, as in a true albino. 



While on the subject of colour, I may remark that the white 

 "tag" to the brush is not peculiar to either sex, although it is 

 generally supposed that the dog-Fox alone has it. Those which 

 have a black "tag" to the brush, if their history could be traced, 

 would probably be found to have been imported from Belgium, 

 for I have remarked, when looking over a lot of Belgian Fox- 

 tails, sent over for dusting furniture and pictures, that the 

 majority of these were black or dark at the extremity. 



The female Fox is generally smaller than the male, and her 

 head is narrower and more pointed; old vixens, too, are 

 generally darker on the back than old males. 



It is a curious thing, in connection with Fox-preserving, how 

 few vixens are killed by hounds. Ask any huntsman or whip 

 how many he handles in the course of a season, and he will tell 

 you very few. They must go somewhere, if not in front of the 

 hounds, and this of itself is sufficient to show that Foxes do not 



