142 
U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY-GENERAL REPORT. 
of the name, virginianus, especially as a strict construction of the law of priority, as based on 
the evidence of the date of publication on the title page, would lead to the same result. 
It is somewhat remarkable that in a considerable number of fossil teeth and jaws of foxes from 
the bone cave of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and other localities, there should be none referable at 
all to the red fox. All have the peculiar characteristics of the gray foxes already mentioned. 
It is, however, difficult to consider them altogether the same with the Vulpes virginianus , which, 
also, they exceed quite considerably in size. Comparing them with the oldest and largest of 
seven gray foxes before me, the muzzle is broader, the head between the orbits much more so, 
the zygoma higher anteriorly. The teeth are also much larger. The lower jaw is higher, and 
the upper outline, exclusive of the teeth, is nearly straight, not slightly concave; the height behind 
the sectorial teeth is six-tenths of an inch, instead of 0.45, as in the recent specimens. The 
teeth are larger in every way, and the posterior molar has but one pointed central tubercle, 
instead of two twin ones. There are other differences, which I shall not now stop to enumerate. 
I do not venture, however, to impose a new name, as I doubt whether I have yet seen the largest 
size of the gray foxes, and am consequently ignorant of the changes which the skulls may 
undergo. 
Measurements of skulls. 
No. 968, Q. 
Washington. 
No. 845, young. 
Pennsylvania. 
No. 1175. 
Texas. 
Inches and 
lOOths. 
lOOths of total 
length. 
Inches and 
lOOths. 
lOOths of total 
length. 
Inches and 
lOOths. 
lOOths of total 
length. 
SKULL. 
Total length. 
4. 68 
1.00 
4. 48 
1. 00 
4. 59 
1.00 
Intermaxillari.es to condyles- 
4.66 
.99 
4. 32 
.96 
4.47 
.97 
Greatest width_ 
2. 60 
.55 
2.37 
.52 
2. 57 
.56 
Greatest height above basi-occipal..... 
1. 43 
. 35 
1.45 
.32 
1.37 
.29 
Distance between orbits--- 
.92 
. 19 
.87 
. 19 
.95 
.20 
Distance between points of orbital processes_ 
1.47 
.31 
1. 25 
. 28 
Nasal bones, length---- 
1. 64 
.35 
1.36 
.30 
1.56 
.34 
Nasal bones, width before- 
.41 
.08 
.40 
.08 
.41 
.09 
Narrowest part of muzzle behind incisors .. 
.72 
' . 15 
.76 
. 17 
.70 
. 15 
Upper incisors, from front to hinder margin of palate. 
2. 33 
.50 
2.20 
.49 
2. 23 
.49 
Upper incisors, width between external edges . __ 
. 52 
. 11 
.51 
. 11 
Upper molars, length taken together_ 
1.72 
.36 
1.70 
.38 
1. 68 
.36 
Upper molars least distance between_ 
. 48 
. 10 
. 45 
. 09 
Lower jaw, length excluding incisors- 
3.41 
.73 
3. 23 
.72 
3. 37 
.73 
Lower jaw, height..-. 
1. 50 
.32 
1.43 
.31 
1. 47 
.32 
Between line of orbital processes to occiput- 
2.34 
.50 
2 . 22 
.49 
2.20 
.48 
End of nasals_ 
2.17 
.46 
2 . 12 
.47 
2.10 
.45 
End of intermaxillary.... 
2.67 
.57 
2. 65 
.59 
2 . 60 
.56 
Orbit to end of intermaxillary- 
1.72 
.36 
1.73 
. .38 
1.75 
.38 
