Swift Fox 
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specimens of all these phases are found everywhere that the 
species is found, nor are they peculiar to this species but seem to be 
common to all the species of the Red Fox ; moreover it is said that 
the same litter of young may contain examples of two or more of 
the phases. 
Distribution. — Mountains in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. 
(Merriam, L c.) In Colorado it does not come much below 8,000 
feet, except perhaps in winter, but seems to be found all through 
the mountains from this altitude up to at least timber-line, where 
it may be found in summer and fall anyway, if not in winter. 
Habits. — There does not seem to be much information at 
hand concerning the habits of our Red Fox. It seems to keep 
itself pretty much out of the way of man, coming out mostly 
at night, though it is sometimes seen during daytime; nor 
have we ever heard any complaints of it troubling the farmer's 
poultry. It probably lives largely on mice of various kinds, 
wood-rats, rabbits, such birds as it can catch, and in winter, 
at least, it is known to feed on dead animals, such as horses 
and cattle. Judging from my limited experience with them 
they are easily trapped, much more so than coyotes. 
The young are born in April and May; the number in a 
litter varying from two to eight, five being the average. The 
male remains with the female, at least until the young are able 
to forage for themselves; the latter begin to come out of the 
dens when about six weeks old. Foxes breed during the first 
year, when a little less than a year old. 
The black and silver fox skins are very valuable, ranging 
in price from $350.00 to $1000.00, while cross foxes vary 
from $10.00 to $20.00, and red foxes from $5.00 to $8.00. 
Because of the great value of the silver variety, some attempts 
have been made to breed them for their pelts, but only on a 
very small scale as yet. 
Vulpes velox (Lat., swift). Swift Fox 
Vulpes vclox Say, Long's Exped. to Rocky Alts., i., p. 487 (1823). 
Type locality. — This seems to be somewhat doubtful. The 
