MAMMALS OF MARYLAND 135 



FiGUBE 45. — Distribution of Vulpes vulpes fulva. 



throat, and a band down the abdomen white ; feet and outside of ears 

 black. 



Cranially, this fox differs from the gray fox ( Urocyon) in that the 

 temporal ridges enclose a narrow V on the top of the skull, whereas 

 in the latter they are distinctly lyrate in shape ; the upper incisors are 

 lobed, in contrast to the unlobed condition in U rocyon. 



Measurements. — Three adult males from Montgomery County have 

 the following external measurements: Total length 1030, 1000, 995; 

 tail 370, 372, 360; hind foot 170, 165, 160; ear 83, 86, 85. Cranial meas- 

 urements of seven adults from Montgomery County are as follows: 

 Basal length 139.7 (133.8-143.6) ; zygomatic breadth 72.0 ( 69.7-74.0) ; 

 postorbital constriction 23.9 (22.0-28.8) ; alveolar length of upper 

 maxillary toothrow 61.8 (59.5-63.4). 



Females average smaller than males in size. 



Habitat and habits. — The red fox is cosmopolitan in its distribution, 

 except that it is not generally found in dense forests and woods. It 

 prefers rolling farmland, sparsely wooded areas, brushlands, and dense 

 weed patches, usually in the vicinity of a stream or lake. 



The species is now abundant in all sections of the State, although 

 at one time it apparently was not found here. According to Mansueti 

 (1950, pp. 27-28), the early American settlers hunted the gray fox 

 {Urocyon cimereoargenteus) . The Indians were unanimous in claim- 

 ing that before the coming of the Europeans there were no red foxes 



