THE FOX 



(Cams vulftes or Vulfies alofiex) 



THE fox enjoys a well-earned reputation for cunning and shrewdness, and 

 especially for its capacity to adapt itself to changed conditions and its 

 presence of mind and resourcefulness in emergencies. Nevertheless, it is 

 possible to deceive even a fox. A well-known American naturalist relates, for 

 instance, how he attracted a fox to within a few yards of his own position by 

 imitating the squeaking of a field-mouse. For some distance he came cautiously 

 skulking between the big tussocks of coarse grass, but for the last fifty yards 

 he had to traverse open sward. When he had got half this distance he became 

 suspicious, and began to think that the motionless, squatting naturalist was not 

 a stump or a rock, whereupon, it is curious to note, that he at once ran to 

 leeward of the suspicious object, thus showing that foxes, like many other 

 animals, trust more to their sense of smell than to their sight. 



In spite of the fact that everybody knows a fox by sight, there is a difference 

 of opinion among naturalists as to whether the fox of North America is specifically 

 identical with the European animal. The differences between them are, however, so 

 small and insignificant that the most sensible course is to regard the fox as a 

 circumpolar species, with several local races, both in the Old World and in North 

 America. To attempt anything in the way of description of such a well-known 

 animal would be altogether superfluous, although it may be well to mention that the 

 tip of the tail is always white or whitish ; and that, as in most members of the dog 

 family, there is a dark-coloured patch on the upper surface of the root of the tail, 

 indicating the position of a gland. 



Although nearly related to wolves and jackals, foxes are distinguished by 

 their slighter make, the relatively shorter limbs and longer body and tail, as well 

 as by the sharper muzzle, and also by a peculiarity in the shape of the projecting 

 process of bone which forms part of the upper border of the socket of the eye. In 

 wolves, jackals, and dogs this process is convex, whereas in all foxes it is concave ; 

 thus conclusively proving that the fox has nothing to do with the parentage of the 

 dog. 



The typical fox of northern and central Europe is one of the largest repre- 

 sentatives of the species, and is further characterised by the deep " foxy " red colour 

 of its coat, and the light colour of the under-parts. In southern Europe this race is 

 replaced by one of rather smaller dimensions (Cams vulfies melanogaster) and less 

 brilliant red in colour, with the under-parts dark, and sometimes a cross-shaped 

 dark mark on the shoulders. Nearly allied is the Himalayan fox (C. v. montanus) ; 



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