Greyhound Foxes Help Needed

[neil cooney 10,416]

Personally I'd well believe that certain species had their own local strains in certain areas of the islands. I do know it most certainly was true with some localised Hare populations ie. shape and colour and you also see it with some localised bird populations colour wise.

So why wouldn't there have been a localised population of Foxes in an area with their own shape, size and colour, especially as there's large geographical barriers such as the Pennines to slow down a too-ing and frowing of fresh blood.

Didn't Badger hunters in the old times used to remark on certain areas being reknown for gingers etc. ?

It was when sportsmen started to repopulate some areas that gene pools most certainly got diluted. I know this was the case with some local populations of Hares here in Ireland. So why not foxes ?

[cragman 2,763]

Good point Neil. Slightly away from the subject, but I've always thought the wrens I see flying around the heather clad moor are a more localised breed than those choosing to breed in the low lands. They build their nests in deep heather as opposed to dark, overhanging structures like tree roots, tunnels etc.

[craggers 36]

Just an update

 

we have found a Greyhound Fox authenticated by Peel no less killed in 1840 and have DNA from it tests are ongoing

[loafer 47]

It has just been established in Africa that there are four distinct types of giraffe as opposed to the one type originally, so different fox types doesn't sound inconceivable.

[craggers 36]

actually they were few in number but found all over the place as the following reports will show

 

ITONFIELD FOX HUNT

A greyhound fox (the largest ever known to have been caught in this part of the Country) will be let off near to BROADFIELD HORSE, on Thursday 4^th January 1821 at 11 o’clock in the Forenoon. The hounds of E Hasell and F Vane, Esqrs, will attend.

CARLISLE PATRIOT 30^TH DECEMBER 1820

The lovers of the chase among our good citizens and neighbourhood will learn with pleasure, that Mr C Cross intends catering for their amusement by turning out tomorrow (Thursday) at Chapel Farm, Thorveton, a fine greyhound dog fox at half past ten. We wish them a fine day and a good run.

Trewman's Exeter Flying Post or Plymouth and Cornish Advertiser, Thursday, January 11, 1844;

 

The cub killed was a good specimen of the old Forest breed, the greyhound fox of which this country has an abundance, and nothing can speak more in favour of the fox preserving and farmers hereabouts than the declaration of Jem Hills that during the 17 years he has hunted the country (1) they have never imported a single fox from other countries.

(1) He is speaking of the Heythrop Hounds

 

JACKSON’S OXFORD JOURNAL 7^TH AUGUST 1852

“Away they went for ? Plantation, and the dogs had not been in the cover two minutes before a fine greyhound fox was started from his hiding place, broke the cover and made on at a rattling pace for Barn Farm.”

The Royal Cornwall Gazette, Falmouth Packet, and General Advertiser Wednesday, January 30, 1863

UPTON CHEYNEY- A fine greyhound dog fox was shot early on Tuesday morning by Mr James Wilson, who caught it in the act of visiting his poultry yard. It is a pity his Grace the Duke of Beaufort does not hunt this quarter oftener, as foxes are so very numerous.

The Bristol Mercury (Bristol, England), Saturday, October 23, 1869

 

DEPREDATIONS OF A FOX – A few days ago Mr Matthew Lewis, of the Park, near Bridgend, was much annoyed by the ravages committed amongst his poultry. He adopted means to secure the plunderer, and on Sunday last he was successful in capturing a fine vixen fox of the greyhound species. During the visits paid his poultry, Reynard managed to destroy the large number of 83 fowls and 19 couple of ducks. CAMBRIAN

The Morning Post (London), Tuesday 3^RD August 1841

 

Brayford was the fixture for the 27^th. The master arrived with 21 couples of hounds at eleven. A move was made to draw the coverts between Brayford and Challacombe, but they did not respond to the call, so the master decided to draw the open moor near Moles Chamber. Hounds were no sooner on the heath than they got on a fresh drag, and the master’s ye soon viewed away a brace of the wild Exmoor “greyhound foxes.”

The report is of Mr Connock Marshall’s Foxhounds

North Devon Journal - Thursday 05 February 1885

 

In the hilly country such as the Scottish Highlands the shepherd will also have to see that the flock is not attacked by the large greyhound foxes which are much bolder than those of the shires, and will tease a ewe with twin offspring all night long, trying to make it back over the edge of a precipice.

Aberdeen Evening Express - Monday 22 March 1886

 

NORWEGEN FOXES – It is stated that Norwegian foxes are by far the best foreigners to turn away. They are much bigger than their English relatives, long in the leg like the old greyhound foxes of Dartmoor and Wales, and put together quite in the form for going. A gentleman brought a few cubs from Norway, and turned them away in the Burton country, Only one has turned up, but he gave the hounds a rare gallop for an hour, when they bowled him over.

York Herald 12^TH JANUARY 1874

 

A return was then made to Easby, and a fine greyhound fox broke away from behind the parsonage house.

(The Zetland Hunt)

NORTHERN ECHO 30^TH OCTOBER 1883

On Saturday morning last, a fine old greyhound fox was found by the workmen, drowned in a lime pit, in the yard of Mrs. Smith, skinner, Chester-le-Street.

The Newcastle Courant etc (Newcastle-upon-Tyne), Saturday, October 18, 1828;

Edited September 11, 2016 by craggers

[craggers 36]

The greyhound fox referred to in the previous article turned out to be a damp squib, the owner kept promising hair but not delivering it was only when I put a rocket up his arse that we got some, however things had moved on by then. There was the oddest piece of taxidermy at a car boot sale “darn sarf”, the vendor was adamant it was a greyhound fox and some chap despite strong objection from his wife bought it. At that point he knew nothing of greyhound foxes but soon after he saw a piece in the Countryside Alliance magazine I had written and sent some hair to Warwick. The e mail came back

“We have DNA from the hair and it is fox but unlike any in our database, some of the differences may be sequencing artefact but we need to get more data.”

Edited March 24, 2017 by craggers

[Squirrel_Basher 17,100]

Good luck in your quest Dave .lol.

If I kill any more I'll be sure to send you the tail .

[craggers 36]

sorry Foxdropper I'm not called Dave and as the greyhound went extinct in the 1930''s I think it unlikely you will shoot one unless of course you have a seance

 

Anyway thats me done got nothing more to say, life's too short

Edited April 2, 2017 by craggers

[Qbgrey 4,086]

great read,ive shot light,dark,very white chested one with lovely deep ginger coat,and got eurthristic badger mount,also shot a fox the size of a alsation,but a greyhound fox.....no.

[craggers 36]

thanks for that

don't think there is a lot of hope of shooting one (the true greyhound ) seems to have died off in the 1930's

Edited April 3, 2017 by craggers

[donnyc 1,203]

Few large silver ones round here...think one or two escaped from a fur farm that was way way back in time just shows that throw backs will pop up after many generations

[Accip74 7,112]

great read,ive shot light,dark,very white chested one with lovely deep ginger coat,and got eurthristic badger mount,also shot a fox the size of a alsation,but a greyhound fox.....no.

The size of an alsation?

[EDDIE B 3,162]

Few large silver ones round here...think one or two escaped from a fur farm that was way way back in time just shows that throw backs will pop up after many generations

You mean pure silver, like a silver mink? Surely there's a few of those mounted!

[craggers 36]

we never claimed it was the size of an alsatian

what is going to happen is when the DNA testing is done we will make the results and pics available to all be it a greyhound or not

it just takes time

[donnyc 1,203]

 

Few large silver ones round here...think one or two escaped from a fur farm that was way way back in time just shows that throw backs will pop up after many generations

You mean pure silver, like a silver mink? Surely there's a few of those mounted!

 

Not the bluish type like mink more silver and always very big foxes