394 
MAMMALIA. 
necessary to make a reserve. Its sanguinary instincts are in- 
vincible ; tbe desire for blood is a necessity of its nature. We 
might, perhaps, succeed in entirely banishing these instincts by 
submitting the animal to prolonged domestication during succes- 
sive generations, but it cannot be brought about by a few years’ 
training. This is the reason why it is so difficult to keep an adult 
Fox ; the depredations that it never ceases to commit are a con- 
tinual source of embarrassment to its owner, who at last, to end 
the annoyance, ultimately gets rid of it. 
The flesh of the Fox exhales so repulsive an odour that it is | 
even repugnant to many animals. Some people, however, use it, 
principally those in vine- growing districts, where it feeds on ! 
grapes. It is stated that this offensive smell can be readily got 
rid of by exposing the flesh to a freezing temperature. 
Hitherto we have been treating of the Red Fox. In America 
it is also known, being found from the 35° to the 55° parallel of 
latitude, and from the Atlantic seaboard to the Mississippi River ; 
also in Oregon and British Columbia. There is a slight dif- 
ference in colouring between the European and American, which 
some naturalists have taken advantage of to consider as just j 
cause for classing them as representatives of different species. 
In our opinion, no pretext is obtainable to deem them other- i 
wise than varieties. The Black Fox, so valuable for its fur, 
belongs to the Red Fox family, and is only a chance production ; 
in the same litters, occasionally, cubs both black and red having 
been found. The nobles of Russia, the mandarins of China, and 
the khans of Tartary value a Black Fox skin above all furs, and 
the price that a perfect pelt in prime condition fetches is fabulous. 
Russia, Siberia, and the colder regions of North America alone 
produce this valuable animal, and they are so much sought after : 
that but for the severity of the climate few would continue to 
exist. 
The Arctic or Blue Fox inhabits the whole extent of both 
continents beyond the 69° of latitude ; that is to say, Russia, 
Siberia, and the high regions of North America. The pelage of 
this species is very long, soft, and thick, and is sometimes white, 
frequently of a grey slate colour with a tinge of blue. It is the 
object of a considerable trade. 
This animal differs considerably from the ordinary Fox in i 
