292 THE QUADRUPEDS OF ARIZONA. 
evidence that the Coyoté will cross and bear fertile off- 
spring with the domestic dog; and I believe the female 
of either will take the male of the other. During the 
season of heat, which is in spring, I have known dogs to 
_ disappear for several days, and return in such a dilapi- 
dated condition as to leave no doubt they had been 
decoyed away by some female Coyoté, and received hard 
treatment from her or her relatives. The hybrid is said 
to possess the bad qualities of both parents, and the good 
ones of neither, as usual with bastards; and to always 
remain snappish and intractable, spite of severity or 
kindness. The gestation of the species, as is well known, 
does not differ materially from that of its allies. It brings 
forth in May or June, in secluded places, usually under 
or among rocks. Five or six puppies are ordinarily pro- 
duced at a birth. A variety of absurd stories regarding 
its reproduction pass current, among even the best in- 
formed backwoodsmen ; many affirming that the pups are 
born shapeless, inchoate masses, to be afterwards licked 
into proper shape by the mother. 
Among the quite numerous Foxes of North America, 
but one, the Gray Fox ( Vulpes Virginianus), is known as 
an inhabitant of the Territory. Two others, however, 
the Prairie Fox (V. macrourus), and the little Kit or 
Swift Fox (V. velox), may possibly occur. The Gray 
Fox itself, though generally distributed, does not seem to 
be abundant. I procured a number of fine skins from the 
Indians, who use them as articles of dress, for pouches, 
and a variety of other purposes. I believe they are 
always skinned in ordinary hunter fashion, by cutting © 
from chin to tail, which latter is left attached, though the 
greater part of the legs are removed. — To be continued. 
