38 BULLETIN 1151, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
The chief factor to be borne in mind is the general tendency of 
each generation of silver foxes to be lighter than that preceding. 
To overcome this is one of the objects of intelligent breeding. An 
intimate knowledge of the breeding and pedigree of the ancestors 
as well as of the parents is required. In selecting pups for breeders 
it should be remembered that as a rule the pelt becomes lighter with 
age. For example, a dark-silver pup (see frontispiece) may within 
a year or two nearly approach the light-silver class. It is not ad- 
visable, therefore, for anyone starting in the fox business to purchase 
for breeding stock animals classed as silver or light silver (75 per 
cent or more silver). At present, pelts of this class find a ready 
market at a reasonable return, but they do not have so fine a texture 
and finish as the darker pelts and therefore do not command so high 
a price. 
A ranch should contain both light and dark silvers, however, for 
the following reasons: (1) Dark silver animals of approved ancestry 
are essential for breeding stock because of their known ability to 
transmit this character; (2) light silvers are desirable because, while 
the pelts do not now bring so high a price as the dark, they have a 
quicker turnover; and (3) light silvers should be maintained as a 
safeguard in ease the present preference for dark-silver pelts, which 
is based largely on fashion, should turn to the lighter strains. 
It should be remembered that breeding for prepotency, prolificacy, 
and disposition are of as much importance as breeding for color. 
These factors have been given some consideration by a few progres- 
sive breeders, but if more thought were given to these points by the 
average breeder some of the main difficulties now encountered would 
be overcome. 
It is necessary to study as carefully as possible the natures of the 
two foxes to be mated by watching their actions. It should be re- 
membered, however, that foxes, when aware that they are being 
ol (served, do not act naturally. When the foxes to be mated have 
been finally determined upon, they are placed in a pen together and 
further observed to determine accurately and quickly whether they 
will live together peaceably. A decision one way or the other may, 
in some instances, be reached in a few hours, but again it may take 
days, or even a week. If the foxes are inclined to get along well 
together, the breeder may expect a successful outcome. Failure of 
the breeder properly to choose mates by careful selection and obser- 
vation may result in the loss of a valuable breeding fox. 
The j^ossibilities of modification or improvement by selective breed- 
ing are fully as great with foxes as with domesticated animals, and 
it is only logical to believe that selective breeding will in time pro- 
duce thoroughly domesticated breeds. Some of the highest-priced 
fox pelts ever marketed were produced by animals raised in cap- 
tivity. 
MONOGAMOUS AND POLYGAMOUS MATING. 
Monogamy is the mating of one male with one female; polygamy, 
the mating of one male with two or more females. A beginner should 
handle and breed foxes in pairs. After he has acquired considerable 
knowledge and experience it may be found advisable to practice 
polygamous mating. 
