Pueblo chieftain., 1921-07-29
THE WILD ANIMAL BUSINESS

rarely indeed that an elephant reaches
100 years
1t is not an uncommon sight to find
black leapnrds in zoos and circuscs-
Contrary to general belief this Is NOT
a distinct species, but a sporadic &c
currence among the big cats. Thesf
are merely melanistic animals, occur
ing more frequently among leapards
than among the larger members Of tho
feline family The animals have IN
their makeup a large share Of plE-
ment, and are just the opposite OF al
bino types. which completely lack pig
ment There have been cases Of al
bino tigers and leopards. There is al;
least one pelt Of a totally black tiger
in the United States.
on the FUR Of the black leopard. In
the proper lisht, the outlines Of the
spots may been Harn easily This
over supply % pigment IN some other
birds and animals De- not uncommon,
much darker than nc ordinary color
Of their brothers and Histsrs.
The offspring Of black leopard
might al be the usual spotted animals,
but In some other kinds OF beasts. hy
careful selection and breeding. most
Of the young ones born will he pig
mented to such an sStent that all viii
present an appearance very different
from the original animal In one not
able Instance. the darker animals have
been produced IN commercial quaint
ties. and excellent spcciments com
mand prices n hundred times rs Ereat
as the lighter colored specimerts OF
the breed
This case Is that or the so-oailed ell
yer black fox. This FOX Is exactly the
same fox a. the common red one. DC
caEionsliy In the Unifed states among
litter OF Young foxes a melauisti-
puppy 10 discovered and in Canada
this WAS more common. Sometime
come % the young ones would be
darker on some parts ~ the pclt. and
TINS skin Is known commercially as
the cross fox
breeding silver roses
Careful selection Of the blacklist o.
the fnelaniHtic foxes from generation
20 generation developed the silver
black fox. some specimens % which
are worth 1000. as compared with u
price Of about $50 which the common
red fox brings.
Fox farms where these beasts are
raised for the fur they bear have be
some quite common IN the United
OF Agriculture SAYS 'hcrc are about te1
| FOX farms IN this country. devoted
mostly 20 the propagation OF silver
black foxes and Jhut there are NOR"
than 5000 such foxes now in the
United States Several hundred are
killed each year for the fur trade
In developing the silver black fox.
II was found that In parts u Canada,
particularly Prince Edward Island
the black fox puppies occurred more
frequently than IN the United States,
and most Of the black foxes imported
here came from Prince Edward Islnnd,
Canada. according To the figures in
tho possession OF tire Department OF
Agriculture. now possesses about g.
COO silver black foxes IN captivity
The black fox and the black leopard
and a few other melanistic forms are
common enough not TO ne freaks. aud
therefore have n legitimate place In
zoos. Most animal experts contend
that out and out freaks have not. as
they are not representatives OF any
breed OF animals. but are accidents OF
nature However. Superintendent Hoi-
lister. Of the geological park In Wash
inEtnn pays ne is continually having
offered to him flve-lcE-cd cnlvcH. two
headed serg"ntH and every other con-
ceivable strange formation ot animal
life without exception. these offers
are refused The only beasts ap-
preaching an unususl type OF animal
hsrhored In tho Washington roo are a
cross between female ass and a re-
bra and a cross between n male zebra
and horse. Thsse. Mr.. Hollistcr
pointed out. were not freahs. hut such
economic experiments in animal in
dustry as the cross between the bison
and the common COW.