SILVER-FOX FAR .MIX (',. 39 
Foxes in the wild are said to be monogamous, but it is definitely 
known that those bred in captivity are both monogamous and polyga- 
mous. Ranchers who were aware of the necessity of producing more 
pups per pair of foxes by lessening the number of shy breeders re- 
sorted to polygamous mating as an experiment. Attempts were 
made to mate one male with several females during one breeding 
season. As a rule the results have been satisfactory so far as in- 
creasing production is concerned. This is true of red. cross, and 
silver foxes. It is believed, however, that the majority of ranchers 
practicing polygamous mating are doing so simply with a view to 
increasing the number of pups, and are not paying particular atten- 
tion to the individuals to be 'mated. Polygamous mating should do 
more than increase production. The vitality and quality of the off- 
spring generally should be much improved as compared with that 
of the parent-. These are factors to be given consideration in mak- 
ing such mating-, otherwise the progeny may be of inferior type, 
thus defeating the primary object — breed improvement. 
ESSENTIALS OF FEEDING. 
PRINCIPLES OF FEEDING. 
The same judgment required in the selection of foxes should be 
exercised in feeding them. Intelligent selection will be ineffective 
unless the feeding is such that the animals will thrive and yield a 
good increase. The real object is to supply nutritive material for 
building and repairing the body and for producing good fur. The 
ration must be wholesome and acceptable to the foxes, and at the 
same time it must be reasonably cheap. Cleanliness in preparation 
and regularity in feeding are important. 
To get the best results a feed must be provided that is palatable 
and acceptable to foxes. The same feeds and combinations of feed- 
should be used steadily, and sudden changes either- in the diet or in 
the manner of feeding should be avoided. A feed may be satisfac- 
tory in certain combinations, but not in others. While it is not 
meant that the same kinds of feed should be given during every sea- 
son of the year, the danger is pointed out that foxes may be " thrown 
off their feed '' by such radical changes as occur when one rancher 
suddenly adopts a new ration on learning of another's success with it. 
Fox feeding Iras not yet advanced to the stage where the effects 
of all feeds upon the animal's body can be specified, but some are 
well understood. For instance, mineral matter is necessary to proper 
growth and is found in all of the vital part-, of the body. Young 
growing animals require larger quantities of it than those full grown : 
hence care should be taken to provide a liberal supply, especially of 
calcium and phosphorus. When a ration is deficient in either of 
these, the calcium may be furnished in the form of calcium carbonate. 
well-slaked lime, or ground limestone. Both calcium and phos- 
phorus can be provided in the form of precipitated calcium phos- 
phate, bone ash. or very finely ground green bone or rock phosphate. 
Green bone and bone ash also supply small quantities of other salts 
needed in animal nutrition. 
