AMERICAN RED FOX. 
270 
it was before the Revolution. This idea, however, would seem to be over- 
thrown by the continued abundance ol Grray Foxes in the Eastern States. 
In the early history of our country the Red Fox was unknown south of 
Pennsylvania, that State being its Southern limit. In process of time it was 
found in the mountains of Virginia, where it has now become more abun- 
dant than the Gray Fox. A few years afterwards it appeared m the 
more elevated portions of North Carolina, then in the mountains of South 
Carolina, and finally in Georgia ; where we have recently observed it. 
This species was first seen in Lincoln County, Georgia, in the year 1810, 
since then it has spread over the less elevated parts of the country, and is 
not rare in the neighbourhood of Augusta. We are informed by Mr. 
Beile, an intelligent observer of the habits of animals, that on one occasion 
near Augusta, as he was using a call for wild turkeys, a little befoie 
sunrise, in the vicinity of Augusta, two Red Foxes came to the call, suppos- 
ing it to be that of a wild turkey, and were both killed by one discharge 
of his gun 
In order to ascertain whether the speed of the Red Fox was as great 
in the south as in the colder regions of the north, several gentlemen near 
Augusta, in the winter of 1844, resolved to test the question by a regular 
Fox chase. They congregated to the number of thirty, with one hun- 
dred hounds, many of them imported dogs, and all in fine running order. 
They started a Fox at two o’clock on a moonlight morning. He took to 
a j)retty open country on the west bank of the Savannah river. A 
number of gentlemen were mounted on fleet horses. Mr. Beile rode in 
succession three horses during the chase, two of which were good hunters. 
The pursuit of the flying beast was kept up till three o’clock in the 
afternoon, having continued thirteen hours, when the horses and the 
whole pack of hounds were broken down, and the hunt was abandoned. 
This account does not accord with that given by Richaedson, who states 
(Fauna Boreali. Am. p. 93,) “ The Red Fox does not possess the wind 
of its English congener. It runs for about a hundred yards with great 
swiftness, but its strength is exhausted in the first burst, and it is soon 
overtaken by a wolf or a mounted huntsman.” It is quite evident that 
our estimable friend never had an opportunity of participating in the 
chase of the American Red Fox. 
Whilst the Gray Fox seldom is known to dig a burrow, concealing its 
young usually beneath the ledges of rocks, under roots, or in the hollow 
of some fallen tree, the Red Fox on the contrary, digs an extensive burrow 
with two or three openings. To this retreat the Fox only flies after a 
hard chase and as a last resort. If, as often happens, the burrow is on 
level ground it is not very difficult by ascertaining the direction of the 
