THE 
GREY FOX 
Cards azara. 
Plate XYI. 
The Dogs, Jackals, Foxes, and their allies, forming the natural family Canidce of naturalists, are found in 
nearly every part of the world; Australia, where the Dingo or Native Dog is generally supposed to have been 
introduced, and Oceania generally, being the most noticeable exceptions. 
The Zoological Society possesses a tolerably good series of living specimens illustrative of this group of 
animals, which are placed by themselves in some cages erected near the southern entrance to the Gardens. 
The Indian Wolf ( Canis pallipes), the Abyssinian Wolf (Cams simensis), and the Black-backed Jackal (Cams 
mesomelas), are some of the most noticeable representatives of the family from the Old World; the Red Fox 
(C. fulvas ) and the Silver Fox (C. argentatus) are from the northern, and the Grey or Azara’s Fox from the 
southern regions of the New World. Of all these species the Society’s Menagerie contains fine living examples. 
The greater part of these are hardy in the extreme, and bear confinement well, living for many years, and 
frequently reproducing in captivity. 
The first example of the South American species recorded in the Society’s books as living in their 
Menagerie, was purchased in 1847, and died about three years afterwards. It was, however, subsequently 
replaced by other individuals, from one of which Mr. Wolf’s figure was taken in the year 1852. 
The Grey Fox was discovered by the learned Naturalist and explorer Don Felix d’Azara, and described in 
his works on the Natural History of Paraguay, under the name Agourachay. It lias since been recognized by 
Prince Maximilian zu Wied, Lund, Burmeister, and other explorers, as extending to Southern Brazil, haunting 
the wooded valleys of the mountainous districts, and resembling in its wai’y and predatory habits the better- 
known members of the family. 
Specimens of this animal obtained during the expedition of Il.M.S. “The Beagle,” are accurately described 
by Mr. Waterhouse in the volume of the “Zoology” of the voyage devoted to the Mammals. In the same 
work is the following notice of the habits of this Fox in a state of nature by Mr. Darwin. 
“ This animal is common in La Plata, Chile, and the whole of Patagonia, even to the shores of the Strait 
of Magellan; and a fox which lives on the small islands not far from Cape Horn, probably belongs to the same 
species. It generally frequents desert places. I saw many of them in the valley of the Despoblado, a branch 
of that of Copiapo, where there is no fresh water, and where, with the exception of some small rodents (the 
constant inhabitants of sterile regions), scarcely any other animal could exist, 
“I saw also very many of these foxes wandering about by day (although Azara says they are nocturnal in 
Paraguay) on the plains of Santa Cruz, where various kinds of mice are abundant, and likewise around the 
Sierra Ventana. In the course of one day’s ride in this latter neighbourhood (not far from Bahia Blanca, 
lat, 39° S.) I should think I saw between thirty and forty. They generally were wandering at no great 
distance from their burrows; but, as they are not very swift animals, our dogs caught two. In Chile these 
foxes are very destructive to the vineyards, from the quantity of grapes they consume; so that boys are 
generally kept in the vintage season with bells and other means to frighten them away. Azara states, that 
in Paraguay they likewise eat fruit and sugar-cane. By the same authority it is said, that the Agourachay, 
when taken young, is easily domesticated.” 
