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Show 306 t o whether it is not merely a local race of that animal. An excellent opportunity was had during the past season of examiuing numerous specimens of this little Fox in the field, and, since returning, of makiug direct comparison of the skins of the two animals, as well as comparing the crania. The result shows an extremely close relationship, and, as remarked by Professor Baird, size alone appears to be the only external - character of much importance in the discrimination between the two animals, the Island Fox being in round terms but about one- half the size of its congener. In color the discrepancies are quite unimportant, and are almost, if not quite, within the usual range of individual variation. Perhaps - the Island Fox may be of a generally darker tone of coloration throughout. Specimeus, however, taken in June, while they show a deeper tint of rufous, lack the decided glossy black mixture of the back and tail - shown on a Gray Fox shot in August in the Sierra Nevadas, this being replaced by a blackish- brown color. This may be a purely seasonal difference. A comparison of crania of the two animals shows no distinctive peculiarities of moment, those noted by Professor Baird appearing to be merely individual. The islands in the Santa Barbara Channel, where alone, so far as is now kuown, this • animal is found, have long been separated from the mainland, with which geological evidence shows they were formerly connected. Supposing them, at the time of their isolation from the mainland, to have been inhabited by the Gray Fox, which, as is well known, extends from the east quite to the Pacific coast, still retaining its typical form, we may readily assume that in the long interval that has since elapsed, pent up within a very circumscribed area and subject to greater or less changes in the condi-tions of life and climate, the animal has deteriorated in size to what we now End it, ' without having suffered other notable differentiation. Principally to a difference in food may, perhaps, be ascribed the diminution in size. Taking into consideration the complete isolation of the two forms in question, and the fact that no perfect intergradation of size can be shown to connect them, we might perhaps be justified in according full specific rank to this Fox, and this while fully admittiug the extreme probability of it having originally sprung from the allied species. I have thought best here, however, to consider it merely as a varietal form of the • ordinary Gray Fox. It was only upon the island of Santa Cruz that I had the opportunity of seeing this animal, though I was informed by good authority that all the group contained them * in greater or less numbers. Upon all portions of Santa Cruz*" they are abundant, and in certain parts they exist in almost incredible numbers. On the west, the high broken ridges descend in a somewhat gradual slope to the shore, and this portion is clothed with a scanty growth of cactus ( prickly pear). This seemed to be a favorite resort of the Foxes, or else the large number seen here was due to the lack of undergrowth, and their consequent inability to find good hiding- places. In passing over the terrtfce- like plateaus, where the cactus- plants were tolerably thick, I had no difficulty in starting up one of these animals every few moments. No fewer than fifteen were seen in a two hours' walk. Of timidity they showed scarcely a trace, and fear of man had certainly never been inherited by the individuals I saw. The scanty shade afforded by the cacti was here their only protection from the hot sun, and snugly rolled - up underneath these plants, I usually found them taking their noonday naps. Arousing themselves to the situation when my footsteps within a few feet of their retreat awoke them, they would quietly walk out a few steps. The most timid moved off at an easy trot, now and then throwing a glance backward, as if somewhat doubtful of our intentions. From the character of the droppings I concluded that their food, at least at this the summer season, must be largely insectivorous, and such proved to be the case. The beaches, too, doubtless supply more or less of their subsistence, though the tracks found upon these in the morniug did not indicate that they resorted to them in very great numbers. On one occasion I had an excellent opportunity of watching one of these little animals as he was busily engaged hunting his supper. His search, as long as I followed him, which he permitted me to do at a short distance, was limited to insects, especially grasshoppers, which he found on the open plain among the scanty herbage and under small stones. These, after a preliminary sniff told him that game was beneath, he readily turned over with his long snout. Notwithstanding the fact that the island is crowded with sheep, I could not learn that any depredations had been traced to the Foxes. On the contrary, they appeared to be considered by the herders as perfectly harmless, although it seems moat probable that the young lambs must suffer from their attacks. They prove a determined enemy to the Gulls, Cormorants, Guillemots, and other sea- birds that congregate on the islands for purposes of reproduction, so that these are forced from the main island, and compelled to deposit their eggs upon the little inaccessible islets coptiguous. Quite a number of their nests which had been rifled of their contents came under my observation. __ * This island is distant from the mainland about lb' miles, being the nearest. It is • about 30 miles in length, with perhaps an average width of 5 miles. |