SILVER-FOX FARMING. 33 
factors in determining quality. Smuttiness and deficiency in li 
and a rust or tinge, which give a brownish or chocolate cast to the fur. 
detract from the value of the pelt. A fox - -- :.L r a rusty pelt, 
no matter to what degree, should be eliminated: a perfectly furred 
pelt slightly tinged is less valuable on the fur market than one fairly 
well furred but clear in color. 
Much has been said about the cause of rust or tinge, and it has 
been attributed both to feed and to sunlight. It is well known, 
however, that both rusty and clear-colored pelts can be found on 
the same ranch, where identical feeding methods are followed and 
where the sunlight is approximately the same in every pen. It is 
probable, therefore, that heredity is the determining factor in n 
ness and that the character can be eliminated by careful selection. 
The term " samson " is applied to foxes devoid of guard hairs and 
carrying a very inferior woolly underfill*. This condition has been 
variously attributed to breeding, feeding, and parasites. The real 
cause is not definitely known, and for this reason it is highly inad- 
visable to use such foxes for breeding stock. The pelts have small 
value on the market. 
The brush should be reasonably long, in order to balance properly 
the length of the body, and should carry a white tip 2 to 4 inches 
in length. The general principles determining the quality of the fur 
on other parts of the body are equally applicable to the brush. 
CONFORMATION". 
Conformation involves the individual structure of each part as 
a* unit. A defect in any part offsets to some extent an otherwise 
perfect structure. Some parts, as the chest, back. loin, or leg. are 
relatively of greater importance than others: a deficiency in such 
parts would have more effect on the serviceability of the whole than 
a similar inferiority elsewhere. 
The vixen (PI. II. Fig. 2?) should show much refinement about the 
head and ears and should be wide between the eyes. She should 
be long, deep, and roomy in body, wide through the hips, and full 
in the heart girth. The body width should be uniform from chest 
to tail head. The dog (PI. II. Fig. 1) should be similar in make-up 
and possess a rugged masculine appearance rather than the refinement 
found in the vixen. Constitutional vigor is evidenced by a well- 
developed heart girth, chest, front flank, and loin, and both vixen 
and dog should be deep. wide, and well coupled in these regions 
(Fig. 38). There should be no indication of a pinched appearance 
behind the shoulders or in the loin. If breeding foxes are strong 
in these regions it is safe to assume that, other things being equal, 
they have strong lungs and heart, and consequently are stronger, 
healthier, and more able to resist disease. 
THE BREEDIXG RECORD. 
The best evidence of the value of any animal for breeding is 
found in its offspring. The possessiou of prepotent * the 
desirable kind mean- more for progress than any other factor. 
Wright define- a prepotent animal as one that however mated im- 
presses it> characteristic- on all its progeny, and adds that pre- 
