124 
U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. 
? Vulpes fulvus, Rich. F B. A. I, 1829, 91. 
Fischer, Syn. 1829, 191. 
Dekay, N. Y. Zool. I, 1842, 44 ; pi. vii, f. 1 
Aud. & Bach. N. A. Quad. II, 1851, 263 ; pi. Ixxxvii. 
Canis vulpes, var. <5 pennsylvanicus, Bodd. Elench. Anim. I, 1784, 96. (Pennsylvania Brant Fox of Pennant.) 
Canis ( Vulpes ) vulgaris, var. fulvus, Wagner, Suppl. Schreber, II, 1841, 413. 
Var. B. decussatus, Cross Fox. 
Canis decussatus, (“Geoffr. Mus. Par.”) Desm. Mam. I, 1820, 203. 
“ Sabine in Franklin’s Jour. 656.” 
Harlan, F. Am. 1825, 88. 
Griff. Cuv. V, 1827, 149. 
Canis fulvus, var. /? decussatus, Rich. F. B. A. I, 1829, 93. 
“ Gardens & Menag. Zool. Soc. I, 221.” 
Wagner’s Suppl. Schreb. II, 1841, 414. 
Vulpes fulvus, var. decussatus, Aud. & Bach. N. A. Quad. I, 1849, 45. 
Var. C. argentatus, Silver Fox, Black Fox. 
Canis argentatus, Shaw, Gen. Zool. I, 1800, 325. 
Desm. Mam. I, 1820, 203. 
“ Sabine in Franklin’s Narr. 657.” 
Harlan, F. A. 1825, 88. 
Griff. Cuv. V, 1827, 148. 
F. Cuv. Suppl. Buff. 1, Mamm. 1831, 189. 
Canis fulvus, var. y argentatus, Rich. F. B. A. I, 1829, 94. 
Wagner, Suppl. Schreb. II, 1841, 414. 
Vulpes fulvus, var. argentatus, Aud. & Bach. N. A. Quad. Ill, 1853, 70 ; pi. cxvi. 
Renard argente, St. Hil. & Cuv. Hist, des Mamm. II, 1819. (Plate and text not paged.) 
Sp. Ch. —Hair long, silky, and soft. Tail very full; composed of an under fur with long hairs distributed uniformly among 
it. Distance, in red variety, between hairs, 6£ inches. Tail with a white tip ; feet and ears black. 
Variety fulvus. —Reddish yellow ; back behind, grizzled with grayish. Throat and narrow line on the belly, white. Ears 
behind and tips of caudal hairs, (except terminal brush,) black. 
Variety decussatus. —Muzzle and under parts, with legs, black. Tail blacker than in the other variety. A dark band be¬ 
tween the shoulders, crossed by another over the shoulders. 
Variety argentatus. —Entirely black, except on the posterior part of the back, where the hairs are annulated with gray ; 
this occasionally wanting. Tail tipped with white. 
The body of this species appears fuller than that of the gray fox, ( Vulpes virginianus,) 
although this is owing chiefly to the longer fur. The muzzle, as in the foxes generally, is 
sharp and attenuated. The ears are large and pointed, exceeding in size those of the gray fox; 
they are densely coated on both sides with fine hair, longest and coarsest on the concavity of 
the ear, and wanting immediately about the meatus. 
The legs are longer and larger than those of the gray fox. The under surfaces of the feet 
are densely coated with long soft hair, much fuller and closer than in the gray fox. There are 
four toes on the fore foot, with a concealed rudiment of a thumb, having a claw attached, and 
placed higher upon the foot; the hind leg has four toes only. There is a small naked pad under 
each toe and on the hall of the feet, making five for each foot; on the fore leg is an additional 
small pad, concealed by the fur, and placed under the wrist. The pads, generally, are decidedly 
smaller and more covered up by hair than in the gray fox, and sometimes almost entirely con¬ 
cealed. 
