THE FOX 



but in central Asia and some of the neighbouring countries we find a larger and 

 paler race known as C. v. Jlavescens. No representative of the species is found to 

 the south of the Himalaya or in Burma and the Malay countries ; but the central 

 Asian, or a nearly allied, race probably extends right across Siberia and Manchuria. 



In North Ameria the fox reappears, and ranges as far south as Georgia ; the 

 common and most widely distributed race being known as C. v. fulvus, while 

 separate names have been given to the races respectively inhabiting Nova Scotia 

 and Newfoundland. The so-called "cross fox" of America is merely one with 

 a blackish stripe down the back and another across the shoulders, as in many 

 Himalayan and Afghan foxes; while the "silver fox" is a grey, and the "black 

 fox " a black phase of the ordinary American race. 



Skins of black foxes are of enormous value, really fine specimens selling for 

 as much as ^"200 each ; they are imitated by dyeing the skins of the white Arctic 

 fox (C. lagopus) and leaving the end of the tail and the tips of the longer hairs 

 white. Although most of these black skins come from America, black foxes 

 apparently also occur in Siberia. 



No matter how far north its range, the fox never turns white in winter. 

 Another curious fact about this animal is that the skin, when viewed under the 

 microscope, exhibits a structure indicating that the ancestors of the species were 

 apparently clothed with scales instead of hair ; thus affording important testimony 

 to the view that mammals are the direct descendants of reptiles. 



Unlike jackals and wolves, the fox is a more or less solitary animal, living for 

 the greater part of the year alone, or in company with the vixen, as the female is 

 called ; the latter name being merely the west country pronunciation of fixen, which 

 may be the Saxon plural of fix. Chiefly nocturnal in their habits, foxes may take 

 up their residence either in holes, or " earths," dug by themselves, in ravines or clefts 

 among rocks, or amid coarse grass and bushes. The young, usually from five to 

 seven in number, have slaty grey coats quite different from their parents. Although 

 foxes are sad enemies to the poultry-yard and the game-covert, it should be remem- 

 bered that they are death on field-mice and rats. 



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