Fox-es.1 



MUSEUM OF ANIMATED NATURE. 



207 



that portion of the globe to be a distinct species. 

 It differs from its European congener in the same 

 points and decrees as does the wolf of the one 

 country from that of the other. The American fox 

 is in fact to be distinguished by the breadth of its 

 feet, and their consequent capacity for progression 

 on the snow, and by the quantity of long hair 

 clothing the back part of the cheeks, which, in con- 

 junction with the shorter ears and nose, gives the 

 head a more compact appearance. The red fox 

 has a much finer brush than the European, and is 

 altogether a larger animal. The fur of the body is 

 full, long, soft, and of a bright rufous brown ; the 

 skin is therefore valued as an article of trade, and 

 about eight thousand are annually imported into 

 England" from the fur countries, where the animal 

 is very abundant, especially in the wooded parts. 

 It is not, however, confined to the colder latitudes ; 

 its range, in fact, extends throughout, the whole of 

 the United States. In habits and manners the red 

 fox agrees with our common Reynard, but possesses 

 neither the same wind nor the same vigour and 

 power of endurance. 



" It runs," says Dr. Richardson, " for about a 

 hundred -yards with a great swiftness, bat its strength 

 is exhausted in the first burst, and it is soon over- 

 taken by a wolf or a mounted huntsman." Foxes 

 of various gradations of colour, termed Cross Foxes, 

 are common in the fur countries of North America. 

 These are considered by Dr. Richardson and most 

 naturalists to be varieties of the red fox, and such 

 is the opinion of the native hunters, than whom 

 none are more, likely to possess accurate knowledge 

 on -such points. Fig. 924 represents the ordinary 

 cross fox, distinguished by a grey fur mingled with 

 black, which latter colour prevails over the shoul- 

 ders. A rarer and more valuable variety is the 

 Black or Silver Fox (Canis fulvus, var. argentatus). 

 Dr. Richardson states that seldom more than four 

 or five of this variety are taken in a season at one 

 post, though the hunters no sooner find out the 

 haunts of one than they use every art to catch it, 

 because its fur fetches six times the price of any 

 other fur produced in North America. This fox is 

 sometimes found of a rich deep glossy black, the 

 tip of the tail alone being white : in general, how- 

 ever, it is silvered over (" sable silvered"), the end 

 of each of the long hairs of the fur being white, 

 producing a beautiful appearance. A fine specimen 

 is preserved in the Museum of the Zool. Soc. 



The Virginian Fox (Vulpes Virginianus) appears 

 to be a distinct species, and so most certainly is the 

 Kit, or Tricoloured Fox (V. cinereo-argentatus), of 

 which the skins are common in the shops of furriers. 

 This animal is of small size, and is numerous on the 

 plains extending from the Saskatchewan to the 

 Missouri, and on those of Columbia. It prefers the 

 open country, at a distance from wooded districts, 

 where it dwells in deep burrows of its own exca- 

 vation, and is extremely vigilant and fleet. Dr. 

 Richardson suggests that it may be regarded as the 

 American representative of the Corsac Fox of the 

 deserts of Tartary, being similar to that species in 

 habits and manners, and frequenting localities of 

 the like character. 



925. — The Arctic Fox 

 (Canis (Vulpes) Zagopus). Terreanee-arioo of the 

 Esquimaux of Melville Peninsula ; Terieniak of the 

 Greenlanders ; Wappeeskeeshew-makkeeshew of the 

 Cree Indians ; Peszi of the Russians. 



In the high northern latitudes of the globe the 

 Arctic fox is the sole representative of its race. Its 

 range extends through Siberia, along the borders of 

 the Arctic Ocean, through the bleak regions of the 

 Esquimaux and the dreary realms of Greenland. 



" These foxes," says Dr. Richardson, "inhabit the 

 most northern lands hitherto discovered." In North 

 America their southern limit appears to be about 

 latitude 50°. They are numerous on the shores of 

 Hudson's Bay, north of Churchill, and exist also in 

 Behring's Straits. They breed on the sea-coast, and 

 chiefly within the Arctic circle, forming burrows in 

 sandy spots, not solitary, like the red fox, but in 

 little villages, twenty or thirty burrows being con- 

 structed adjoining to each other. We saw one of 

 these villages on Point Turnagain, in lat 68^ 

 degrees. Towards the middle of winter they retire 

 southwards, evidently in search of food ; keeping as 

 much as possible on the coast, and going much 

 farther to the south in the districts where the coast- 

 line is in the direction of their march. Captain 

 Parry relates that the Arctic foxes, which were pre- 

 viously numerous, began to retire from Melville 

 Peninsula in November, and that by January few 

 remained. Towards the centre of the continent, in 

 lat. 65°, they were seen only in the winter, and then 

 not in numbers. They are very scarce in lat. 61°, 

 and in lat. 53° two only were seen in forty years ! 

 " Hearne says that when taken young the Arctic 

 fox may be domesticated in some degree, but he 

 never saw one that was fond of being caressed." 

 Though not destitute of intelligence, the Arctic fox, 



unlike the common fox, is unsuspicious and des- 

 titute of caution: it has been known to stand by 

 while the hunter was preparing a trap, and on his 

 retiring to run headlong into it. Captain Lyon re- 

 ceived fifteen from a single trap in four hours. The 

 voice of this species is a kind of yelp, and when a 

 man approaches their breeding-places, they put 

 their heads out of their burrows and bark at him, 

 allowing him to come within range of shot. They 

 appear to have the power of decoying other animals 

 within their reach by imitating their voices. 



"While tenting," says Captain Lyon, "we ob- 

 served a fox prowling on a hill side, and heard him 

 for several hours afterwards in different places imi- 

 tating the voice of a brent-goose." Eggs, young 

 birds, blubber, and carrion of any kind constitute 

 the food of this fox — especially different species of 

 lemmings, which are greedily devoured. In general 

 form the Arctic fox resembles the European species, 

 but is considerably smaller, and, owing to the great 

 quantity of white woolly fur with which it is covered, 

 is somewhat like a little shock-dog. The brush is 

 large and full, affording an admirable covering for 

 the nose and feet, to which it acts as a muff when 

 the animal sleeps. Although the head is not so 

 pointed as in our English species, yet it has that 

 air of slyness which is so characteristic of all foxes. 

 The eyes are clear and bright, and of a hazel 

 colour. 



Captain Lyon remarks that the muzzle of the 

 female is shorter than that of the male, and has less 

 of cunning and more of mildness in its expression. 

 The ears are short, and thickly covered with hair, 

 and their edges appear as if they had been cropped. 

 The cheeks are ornamented by a projecting ruff, 

 which extends from behind the ears quite round the 

 lower part of the face, to which it gives an agreeable 

 appearance. The legs are rather long than other- 

 wise, and show great strength of muscle. The feet, 

 which are large, are armed with strong claws. 

 " When the animal is standing still, the hind-legs 

 are so placed as to give the idea of weakness in the 

 loins, which is certainly not the case, as few animals 

 can make more powerful leaps. The general weight 

 is about eight pounds, although some were found to 

 be as low as seven, and a few as high as nine pounds 

 and a half when in good case." 



The Arctic fox is cleanly, and free from any un- 

 pleasant smell: it is habitually watchful, and when 

 asleep, opens its eyes at the slightest noise near it. 

 Day is its season of rest : during the night its activity 

 is extreme, and it gambols or hunts for food till day- 

 break. While in pursuit of its prey it is mute, but 

 in captivity, or when irritated, it utters a short sharp 

 bark. When first taken its rage is ungovernable, 

 nor is it ever thoroughly reconciled to confinement. 

 Those which Captain Lyon had were observed to 

 hide their food, like the dog, under lumps of snow ; 

 snow also was their substitute for water, and they 

 would roll in it with evident satisfaction. " When 

 the snow was slightly scattered on the decks, they 

 did not lick it. up, as dogs are accustomed to do, but 

 by repeatedly pressing with their nose, collected 

 small lumps at its extremity, and then drew it up 

 into the mouth with the assistance of the tongue." 

 Though a few Arctic foxes remain white during the 

 summer, it is only in the winter that the majority 

 assume this pure snowy livery, accompanied by an 

 increase in the fulness and thickness of the fur, 

 which deeply covers even the soles of the feet. In 

 summer the fur is thinner, and of a dusky brownish 

 ash or leaden tint ; and the callous pads of the toes 

 become partially visible. 



926.— The Fennec 



(Megalotis Fennecus). Canis Zerda, Zimmermann ; 

 Megalotis Cerdo, Illiger ; Fennicus Cerdo, Lacepede ; 

 Viverra aurita, Blumenbaeh ; Fennec of the Arabs, 

 Bruce. 



For our first knowledge of this elegant little ani- 

 mal we are indebted to the celebrated Abyssinian 

 traveller Bruce, who discovered it in Nubia. So 

 little, however, was its true character understood, 

 that in the third volume of the Supplement to 

 Button's Avork it is termed " animal anonyme," 

 and even M. Geoffroy for some time regarded it as 

 identical with the Senegal Galago ; in fact the French 

 naturalists were disposed to sink the fennec as a new 

 species of canis altogether. Colonel Denham, how- 

 ever, recognized the animal in the interior of North 

 Africa, and accurately figured it in the Zoological 

 Appendix to his Travels : he also brought a specimen 

 to this country, and thus established the truth of 

 Bruce's description. Riippell re-discovered it in 

 Nubia, where Bruce had first seen it. A preserved 

 specimen and a perfect skeleton, both in excellent 

 preservation, are among the riches of the Museum 

 of the Zoological Society. A detailed account of 

 the osteology of this animal, drawn up by Mr. Yar- 

 rell from this skeleton, will be found in the third 

 volume of the ' Zoological Journal.' Whoever 

 examines the skeleton of the fennec will not hesi- 

 tate for a moment as to the place in nature which 



the animal occupies. The skull, the teeth, the feet, 

 declare it at once to belong to the Canine group. 

 The fennec frequents the sandy desert tracts of 

 Nubia, and other districts of Northern Africa, dwell- 

 ing in burrows of its own excavation. It is said to 

 live much on the fruit of the date, and to climb 

 trees in order to obtain its food : this fact, if true, is 

 very remarkable, being a marked departure from 

 the habits and manners of the rest of the present 

 family. Bruce, indeed, says that it builds its nost 

 in trees, and does not burrow in the earth ; but tais 

 statement is contradicted by M. Riippell. Th< j in- 

 dividual which Bruce had in his possession \. hile 

 at. Algiers was fond of dates or any sweet fruit, and 

 was also partial to eggs. He would eat bread when 

 hungry, especially if sweetened with honey or sugar. 

 The sight of a bird aroused him to eager watchful- 

 ness as long as it was present, and a cat was his 

 aversion. He would endeavour to hide from the 

 latter, and never showed a disposition to resist or 

 defend himself. The animal was disposed to sleep 

 by day, but as night came on became restless to 

 excess, it was never heard to utter any sound. 



The fennec is small and slightly made, with slen- 

 der limbs. The length of the head and body is 

 about thirteen inches, that of the tail eight ; the 

 head is narrow, the muzzle pointed ; the pupil of the 

 eye large and black, the iris deep blue ; whiskers 

 long and thick. The ears are extremely large, as 

 long as the head, broad at the base, erect and 

 pointed. The fur of the body is rather short, but 

 full and silky. The colour is uniform pale fawn or 

 cream colour, passing into white beneath ; the in- 

 side of the ear is fringed with long white hairs ; the 

 whiskers are white. In the districts of Benni Mez- 

 zab and Werglah, where the date grows, the fennecs 

 are hunted for their skins, for which, according to 

 Bruce, there is a market at Mecca, whence they are 

 exported to India. 



In the sub-genus Megalotis, Cuvier associates 

 with the fennec a species from South Africa, the 

 Canis Megalotis of De Lalande (Megalotis Lalandii, 

 H. Smith). This animal is somewhat less than the 

 common fox, but comparatively higher on the 

 limbs ; its general colour is yellowish grey, but the 

 feet and tail, together with a stripe down the spine, 

 are black : the ears are large and spreading. 



927.— The Cape Hunting-Dog 

 (Lycaon tricolor, Brookes). Canis pictus, Desma- 

 rest ; Hyaena venatica, Burchell. This daring and 

 ferocious animal, one of the pests of Southern Africa, 

 is a complete dog, or canis, in the form of the skull 

 and the characters of the teeth ; it has, however, as 

 in the hyaenas, only four toes on the anterior feet, 

 and the same on the feet behind. In figure it is 

 tall, lightly built, but muscular and well propor- 

 tioned ; the limbs are long, the ears large and erect, 

 the jaws powerful, and the teeth strong. Its aspect 

 is wild and fierce, and its disposition treacherous. 

 The fur is close and of a sandy yellow, irregularly 

 clouded and blotched with black and a little white. 

 The tail is somewhat bushy and of moderate length. 

 The colour is subject to variation. 



Wild, fleet, and savage, this species hunts in 

 packs mostly during the night, but frequently in 

 the day ; and so fleet is it that few animals can 

 escape. It often commits extensive ravages on the 

 flocks and herds of the farmer, though it seldom 

 attacks horned cattle openly, but steals on them 

 while asleep, and bites off their tails, even at the 

 root, with one snap, a feat which the wide gape and 

 vast power of its jaws enables it to do with ease. 

 Mr. Burchell, on his return from Africa, brought a 

 living individual to England, which retained during 

 life all its native ferocity. The preserved skin is 

 in the museum of the Zoological Society. A spe- 

 cimen in the Tower some years since arrived in 

 company with a young Cape, lion, both occupying 

 the same den, till the lion became too strong and 

 rough in his play, when the hunting-dog was asso- 

 ciated with a striped hyaena and two of the spotted 

 species, with which it agreed tolerably well. 



It is generally the opinion of naturalists that this 

 species, for which the celebrated anatomist, the late 

 Joshua Brookes, Esq., founded the genus Lycaon, 

 is an intermediate link in the chain of the Carnivora, 

 uniting the canine group to the hyaenas ; indeed, in 

 some points of general aspect, and in the number 

 of the toes, the approximation of this dog to the 

 latter animals is so marked, that Mr. Burchell re- 

 garded it as a hyaena, and as such Temminck de- 

 scribed it under the title of Hyaena picta, though he 

 afterwards assigned it to the genus Canis. The 

 name of Hysena-dog has also been conferred upon 

 it, but as Mr. Swainson gives this title to the Aard- 

 wolf (Proteles), we drop it altogether for the sake 

 of avoiding confusion or misapprehension. 



In size the Cape hunting-dog (Wilde Honden of 

 the Dutch colonists) is as large as a pointer or 

 hound, but higher on the limbs in proportion to the 

 bulk of the body. We are not aware that any 

 serious attempts have been made to domesticate i* 



