THE DOG AND FOX CROSS. 245 



It is now generally admitted that the dog and fox will breed 

 together, but so little is known with certainty of the resulting 

 produce that it is scarcely desirable to attempt a minute descrip- 

 tion. Still it will be perhaps interesting to allude to the best 

 authenticated specimen within my knowledge, which is now the 

 property of Mr. Hewer of Eeading. She is a daughter of the first 

 cross, which was described by Mr. Tomlin in " Bell's Life " in the 

 year 1855, and is by an ordinary terrier dog. 



Letter by R. Tomlin, Esq., on the subject of the Bog and Fox Cross. 



"Mr. Editor,— As your 'Life' is the only 'Old Curiosity Shop ' for the 

 reception of 'fancy articles,' I venture to forward you one respecting the fox 

 and dog cross, and although somewhat out of season, it may perhaps prove 

 interesting to the sportsman and the naturalist. In 1853 various accounts 

 appeared in ' Bell's Life in London ' of the fox and dog cross, the fact heing 

 established by a gentleman of Kent, who then possessed a vulpo-canine bitch 

 which had produce by a dog (vide ' Bell's Life,' Dec. 1853 and Feb. 1854). 

 This bitch (half fox, half dog), now in my possession, had produce in the month 

 of February last by a terrier dog. The produce are two dog whelps and three 

 bitches, some of which were (to ease the dam) suckled by a cur bitch. Two of 

 the litter prove in nature shy as a fox ; three of them dog-like in appearance, 

 colour, and perfectly quiet, and follow well at heel. Still they have the real 

 fox-muzzle and ' fox-action,' about which (to those who have well studied it in 

 the hunting-field) there exists but little mistake. Many there are who doubt 

 the existence of any such animal as that between fox and dog. I am, however, 

 in perfect condition to prove (by the living articles themselves) that the fox is 

 merely a separate species of the genus dog, and intercopulates with the bitch, 

 producing not a hybrid or mule animal, but one which will propagate its species 

 to the very end of the chapter. — Yours, &c. Robert Tomlin. 



"Petebbobough, June 1855." 



The following letter, sent by Mr. Tomlin to the above paper 

 in 1857, refers to this particular bitch, which formed one of the 

 litter therein-mentioned : — 



