FOX. 
315 
The Fox (says BufFon) is so extremely sub- 
ject to the influences of climate, that the varie- 
ties of this species are as numerous as those of 
the domestic animals. Most of our Foxes are 
reddish ; but some are found of a silver-grey ; in 
both the end of the tail is white : in Burgundy 
the latter are called Coal-Foxes (Charboniers), be- 
cause their feet are remarkably black. Their 
bodies have also the appearance of being shorter; 
because they are better clothed with hair. There 
are some which are really shorter than the other 
kinds, and of a dirty grey-colour, nearly the 
same with that of old Wolves; but it is uncertain 
whether this difference constitutes a real variety, 
or is produced by the age of the animal, which 
perhaps grows whiter as he advances in years. 
In the northern climates are Foxes of all colours ; 
black, blue, grey, iron -colour, silver-grey, white, 
with yellow feet, white with black heads, white 
with the extremity of the tail black, reddish with 
the throat and belly entirely white, and, lastly, 
some have a black line along the back, and cross- 
ed with another over the shoulders : the latter 
are larger than the other kinds, and have black 
throats. " 
Some of the above, however, which the Count 
de BufFon considered at that time as varieties, are 
at present regarded as species perfectly distinct. 
The Fox has a broad head, a sharp snout, a 
flat forehead, obliquely-seated eyes, sharp erect 
ears, a body well covered with hair, and a strait 
bushy and somewhat pointed tail. 
