AMERICAN BLACK OR SILVER FOX. 
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composing this fur, when viewed separately, exhibit a crimped or wavy 
appearance ; on the ears and nose scarcely any long hairs are to be seen, 
these parts being thickly clothed with fur. 
The soles of the feet are so thickly clothed with woolly hair that no 
callous spots are visible. 
COLOUR. 
The under fur is uniformly blackish-brown or chocolate ; the long hairs 
are brown at their roots, then silver gray, and are broadly tipped with 
black ; the hairs on the neck, and on a dorsal line extending to the root 
of the tail, are black, forming a broad black line at the neck, which 
narrows towards the tail. 
Chin, throat, and whole under surface, brownish-black ; a tuft of white 
hairs on the neck near the chest ; another white tuft near the umbilicus ; 
upper parts glossy silvery black ; sides, sprinkled with many shining 
silvery white hairs, which produce a somewhat hoary appearance ; tail, 
brownish-black to near the extremity, where it is broadly tipped with 
white. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Nose to root of tail, 
Length of tail, 
Height of ear, ------ 
From nose to end of ear stretched back, 
HABITS. 
Our account of the habits of this beautiful Fox will be perhaps less 
interesting to many than our description of its skin ; for, as is well known, 
the Silver-gray Fox supplies one of the most valuable furs in the world, 
not only for the luxurious nobles of Russia and other parts of Europe, but 
for the old-fashioned, never-go-ahead Chinese, and other Eastern nations. 
In the richness and beauty of its splendid fur the Silver-gray Fox sur- 
passes the beaver or the sea-otter, and the skins are indeed so highly 
esteemed that the finest command extraordinary prices, and are always in 
demand. 
The Silver-gray Fox is by no means abundant, and presents considerable 
variations both in colour and size. Some skins are brilliant black (with 
the exception of the end of the tail, which is invariably white) ; other 
Feet. Inches. 
- 2 5 
■ ■ 1 7 
21 
8i 
3 i 
