20 



spring may be " bred out in a few generations." Evidence on this 

 important point is scanty, but the experience of one breeder may be 

 cited. Beginning with a red female and a silver male, five pups 

 were raised, two red, two cross, and one silver. The silver produced 

 from this mating was then bred to an unrelated silver, the result 

 being two cross and one silver. The silver thus produced was then 

 bred for two seasons and gave birth to seven young, all of which 

 were silvers. 



Breeding for disposition is perhaps fully as important as breed- 

 ing for color. So far this has not been attempted to any extent, but 

 evidently it may be of great importance in overcoming some of the 

 principal difficulties now encountered. By selecting those animals 

 which show the least aversion to man, due regard being paid to 

 other qualities, as prolificness, a strain may be obtained which will 

 breed with the certainty of our domestic animals. This in time 

 should produce a thoroughly domesticated race of foxes, a result 

 of inestimable value, amply justifvang the utmost efforts. Although 

 it may not be fully accomplished by those who begin it, every breeder 

 should keep its importance in mind, for every slight improvement 

 will be to his advantage, and in the end the unqualified success of 

 the business Avill be assured. 



Some have thought to obtain a more prolific and more tractable 

 animal by crossing foxes with suitable breeds of domestic dogs, 

 but their experiments have failed. Although foxes are classified 

 in the dog family they are placed in a separate genus (Vulpes) dif- 

 fering from that (Cams) which includes the wolves, jackals, and 

 other canines, from some of which domestic dogs undoubtedh^ were 

 derived. The period of gestation in the dog, as well known, is about 

 sixty-three days, whereas in the fox it is about fifty-one. Therefore, 

 though perhaps not impossible, the successful crossing of dogs and 

 foxes is scarcely to be expected. 



Slight improvement of individual male animals not intended 

 for breeding may be obtained by castration. This has been tried 

 with red foxes and found to produce an animal of somewhat in- 

 creased size, yielding a correspondingly more valuable pelt. 



PREPARATION OF SKINS. 



The preparation of skins requires some care, ])ut no special imple- 

 ments or preservatives. The opening and only cut is made with a 

 sharp-pointed knife, beginning on the bottom of one hind foot and 

 extending up the hind side of the leg to the vent and thence down the 

 other leg to the foot. The entire body is removed through tliis 



« Doubtless in conformity with Mendelian principles, hut no careful experi- 

 ments as yet have been conducted. 

 328 



