16 
SWIFT FOX. 
vdien running at full speed, i.5 passed by this little Fox with the greatest 
ease, and such is the celerity of its motion, that it is compai-ed by the cele- 
brated travellers above quoted, Lewis and Clark and Mr, Say, “to the 
fdght of a bird along the ground rather than the course of a quadruped.” 
There is nothing in the conformation of this species, anatomically 
viewed, indicating extraordinary speed. On the contrary, when we com- 
pare it with the red fox or even the gray, we find its body and legs 
shorter in proportion than in those species, and its large head and 
bushy tail give it rather a more heavy appearance than either of the 
foxes just named. 
Dr. Richardson informs us that the Saskachewan river is the most 
northern limit of the r-nge of the Kit Fox. Its burrows he says are 
very deep and excavated in the open plains, at some distance from the 
w'oody country. Lewis and Clark describe it as being extremely vigi- 
lant, and say that it betakes itself on the slightest alarm to its burrow. 
On our return to Fort Union after an excursion through a part of the 
adjacent country, wm found at some distance from the stockade a young 
Swift Fox w'hich we probably might easily have captured alive ; but 
fearing that its burrow was near at hand, and that it would soon reach 
it and evade our pursuit, Mr. HARRis shot it. This Avas the last speci- 
men of this Fox that AAm were able to observe during our journey ; we 
have given its measurement in a former part of this article. On our re- 
turn voyage, we found on arriving at Fort Clark that the living Swift 
Fox given us by Mr. Chardon was in excellent condition. It was placed in a 
strong wooden box lined in part with tin, and for greater security against 
its escape, had a chain fastened to a collar around its neck. During 
our homeward journey it was fed on birds, squirrels, and the flesh of 
other animals, and finally safely reached our residence, near New- York, 
where it was placed in a large cage box two-thirds sunk beneath the 
surface of the ground, completely tinned inside, and half filled with earth. 
When thus allowed a comparatively large space and plenty of earth to 
burrow in, the Fox immediately began to make his way into the loose 
ground, and soon had dug a hole large enough to conceal himself entirely. 
While in this commodious prison he fed regularly and ate any kind of fresh 
meat, growing fatter every day. He drank more water than foxes gene- 
rally do, seemed anxious to play or wash in the cup which held his supply, 
and would frequently turn it OAmr, spilling the water on the floor of the 
cage. 
The cross fox which we described in our first volume does not appear to 
require water, during the winter months at least, when fed on fresh meat ; 
as one that we have had in confinement during the past winter would not 
