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TIMELY NOTES ON TOPICS CONNECTED WITII

Silver Fox and . Mink Farming

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We have pleasure in presenting to our readers an article by Bert Avery which appeared in the June issue of the American Fur Breed- er. Mr. Avery is one of the lead. ing ranchers in the United States and top showman for many years. Like many others in the U. S. A. he got his start in silver foxes right in this Province. Here is his story with his impressions so well depicted . . .

“Breeding for Quality in Silver and Mutation Fox" . . . . "Back in 1922 when I started rais- ing silver foxes there were very few ranchers who really knew what the standard of QUALITY was in a silver fox. We all brag- gedabout the fine quality of our animals, but as I recall the ani- mals we had in those days, com- pared with the better animals we are producing now. I realize it was only pride of ownership and aot the quality of the animals that caused this false conception. I remember making a trip from Manitoba to Prince Edward Island in 1922 to buy some breeding stock to improve those I already had and what a mess I made of the selection, in the light of what I learned in the following years.

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"I selected a big male with about 20 per cent silver, the nar- row barred type, but Oh! what a TIP that dog had! The female that went with this male was pretty light. at least 45 per cent silver, got too well built but fairly clear.

ortunatcly she lost her first lit- ter and was pelted the following year, but the male was a good producer—-of ordinary to poor quality pups. It was my misfor- tune that I did not know what to look for. as no doubt there were lots of rcal quality silvers on the ranches I visited, although the finer herds we read about — the Daltons, the Tuplins, the Rayners and others — by this time had been spread pretty thinly over Canada and few of the old pure strains were available and proba- bly yvere not for sale. In 1923 I attended the Royal Winter Fair In Toronto, Ont., where the Ca- nadian ranchers were holding their national live fox show‘. This opportunity to study the best ani- mals in existence at that time. and to compare them side by side and learn the difference between a good animal and a better one. was a valuable experience and has helpedl me a great deal in my breeding program.

"Cappy P, owned by George Callbcck. won_ the grand show championship that year. He was a hmvily furrcd animal, very clear and carrying about 25 per cent silver. But the fox that I will aR ways remember as the ideal type, and which has always been car- ried in my memory as clearly as if it were only yesterday, was a big three-quarter silver male call- ed Canuck Champion, owned by the Pure Canadian ranch operat- ed by Peter Clark at that time. I have been trying for twenty-five years to produce a ‘Canuck Cham- pion' but have never quite suc- ceeded, although I bought one ‘of his sons. Cedar Park l'lA (which placed third at the show) and Hillborn 8C, another male that was closely related. I tried line- breeding these two mal but never quite reached the perfec- tion of this wonderful male.

"Canuck Champion was produc- ed by crossing a pure Dalton male with the famous Alberta. a wild female captured In the Peace Riv- er district of Alberta, Canada. and bought by the Pure Canadian Company in 1910. This Peace Riv- er females progeny crossed ln and llnebred with pure Dalton na- tive Island stock produced some of the finest silvers in Canada and one of the Island's most outstand- ing show herds headed by Canlwk Champion.

"Quality in Foxes . . . Qnnllty In a silver or mutation fox is a very elusive thins and can only be determined by close comlllllllllll with other animals. The average rancher may look at a_ fine sill/Bl‘ fox and decide it is Just about tops. The color looks good. "l8 11"‘ looks dense and about the right length and the texture feels silky. So he takes his pride to a show and proudly puts his animal on the show t:\‘e, as near the top as be can, and very Ilnfilufll‘

THERE OUGHTA IE A LAW

when "'10 illdse doesn't move him to the top on the first inspection. Flflalll’ he finishes in second or lhlrd Dlace. Then ls when you start to really compare your fox with the winner and you find that by comparison there is more to color than first meets the eye. Color, that is sharpness of color, I-‘SDEI-‘lally in the silver fox, is something that pan only be deter- mined by comparison. The finest blue black color I find comes in the darker type silvers.

"Pale Silver Trend Harmful to Ranch Fox . . . . . It is hard to hold the sharpness of color when you get into the pale silvers. The popularity of the pale silver types and the ranchers effort to supply what the market demands has done work to wreck the quality of the silver fox herds than the breeding of mutations, because the paler the fox the harder it is to maintain quality of fur and sharp- ness of color. You will find poorer Sides with a higher percentage of weak, crooked guard hairs that have very little pigment, and the pelt will be lifeless and have a yellowish cast in the pale classi- fication.

"The demand in the trade for blue underfur is another factor in the loss of quality. Just as the light underfur in the pale silver is coupled with weak, poor-color- ed guard fur, so in the mutations the lighter blue the underfur the poorer quality the pelt. When we first started raising white-face sil- vers it was a rare thing to find a poorly guarded fox, but those early white-face silvers did not have the blue underfur. it was not long until a fcw blue under- furred white-faces showed up at the National shows - and I have seen the judges place a wooiy, blue under-furred animal above a much better furred animal because the trade was clamoring for blue underfur. So most of the ranchers started breeding for paler animals with blue underfur and produced some very fine individuals. How- ever, the average of this type have lost their heavy coverage and have developed weak sides and a yel- lowish cast.

"The llmportant thing now is to find out what to do about It. The practice of breeding pale silvers to pale silvers should be modified by using more three-quarter silver males and producing full silvers rather than trying to produce pale silvers. You will find that on the

average your fullsthst, carry. more.

pigment. which means clearer col- or and more fur and better sides, will out-sell the pale silvers. Your pales will bring your top prices, but those squirrely pales have to be figured on too. If you are pro- duclng mutations such as Norweg- ians and LaForest, Cody or Werth. you can still use full silver males with color and quality to improve the average value of your pelts. If ‘you are breeding Moonridge platinums you can use paler sil- vers, as this strain carries a deep- er blue than other strains of plat- inums, and by using lighter silvers in this cross your unmarked pups will be quite light.

‘The Pearl platinum is a type that has been neglected by many breeders but is one of our finest type of foxes. Colorado and the Ritchie Fox Farm. which I now own, is the home of the American Pearl Platinum, as the first mu- tatlon occurred on this ranch and has been developed to a high standard of quality by the Color- ado fur farmers. The ‘Colorado Pearl has been bred to a paler standard than the Mansfield or so-called EasternPearl, two very fine strains originating In Canada. Again, in an effort to satisfy the trade. we have bred our Pearls too pale and too long barred. Some of these paler types iiavc lost their pearl blue barring and have de- veloped a paler bar that resembles a silver fox. This appears mostly in those animals that are too long in the guard fur. The most beau- tiful of the breed are medium in fur length and the bar is a de- finite light blue.

"By crossing the recessive Pearl to the Dominant white-face we have in the second generation produced the Pearlatina, a very fine type with a light blue under-

fur Bl blue guard flu’ bill. III"

Tue FIRST me ow wullaan as" IVII Jllzalveo Atlvvllllil

, on "lime! Illa: ollalm II A saw:

. THE GUARDIAN,

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Carol‘ went close u to

and patted his cheehp Jane-to son confessed later to her hua- band that the movement remained her of nothing so much as a leo- Dnrd playing with its keeper,-and that she herself expected the 1M. pard to unsheathe her claws and scratch his eyes our!

“Ilnlnk you so much m» taking care of me, Antony," an, "m “WBBUY. tholltlh her voice shook "Thank you ever s0 much for dish- ing us all just so as to look after This l5 80in! to be a really cllsrmlns three-handed and pyr- sonally conducted tourl . At tho risk 0f your shooting me 1 prom" m 8° and Mk Rupert what would be the best clothes to wear, and m“

Wllitltl-‘ve got to carry in the my

' lull... Flight

VII Glolglsd

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Si“ walked DB5! lllm. and after Dausing uncertsinly for a moms“; Sothern followed her. Hubert Man: 5°“ "d hi5 W16. left alone, ex- rclhlanged rather helpless glancgg,

en Janeis dry sense of humour got the better of her, and m;

CHARLOTTETOWN

Johnston’s River’ School

BACK ROW — (Teacher) Katherine MacDonald, Perle MscDcsaald, Braail, Etta Marie Macdonald, Rita Walker.

MIDDLE ROW — Mary Power, Helen Power, Reta. or, Bernadette Brazil, Florence Walker, Marilyn SITTING -— Kenneth MacDonald, MacDonald. Leo Walker. Robert Braafll.

Joe Brazil, John

Marie

cums" MacDonald.

Smith, Edna Walker. Eleanor Walker, Doria Train- Driscoll, Brenda Drlscoll. Macdonald, Thomas Beagan, Earl Trainer, Gordon

—Garnhnm Photo.

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In these Notes, to date, about halLthe number of species of Is- land birds have been described. The other half, still to be describ- ed, were grouped by the late Dr. Taverner into the Order of the Pnasercs, a word which he trans- lates as "Perching Birds." These have many characters in com- mon, discussion of which may ba left to the systematists: suffice it to say that the Passeres possess “a highly developed larynx or sing- ing organ with complicated mus- cular control."

This very heterogeneous collec- tion of birds has been further di- vided into two Sub-orders: (l) the Claniatores or Songless Perchers; and (2) the Oscines, the Perching Songbirds. The Clamatores are not to be taken as silent: but only as less tuneful than the Oscines. And even the Oscines, in some cases, do not put their voices to the best use!

Our Clamatores are the King- bird, the Phoebe, the Wood Pewee, and five species of Flycatcher.

laughed. "You klloW. Hubert dear," me End. "the yvuns best me altogether." llrfgthlilrlllzbandt patted her in“, ea s , _ as I know." you Jan" u h’

She swam him an old-fashioned ‘T111189? and sat down again,

I-Iubort watched her keenly.

You're not frightened, Jpn" are you? Larrimore may be-gxng: Eeratlng a little you know."

“Of course I'm frightened," w s the decisive answol; w“; ma, doesn't matter."

"It matters to me. What is mat- mills tn you. Janet?"

Janet Manson bit her lip.

"I "my as well admit it," she sad, and she spoke unwillingly, as if the expression had to be drag- ged out of her. “Hubert, I don't quite trust Rupert Larrlmore."

"My dear Janen!’

"I don't, Hubert. You know "hm W“ Sometlllns s. little fishy about that Hendon show. And you remember that night we all dined “i the Budllllest in London before the start. The amount he dfilnk\u

flubel" Eyebrows shot up.

My deflr." he -protested,

800d deal on ed e what with hav§u.'l:.h.'ll§i'.°'ll§§.'; 51w crash. and ‘all this lunatic onsense of Tony s. Larrimorc de- glves 0111' loyalty. Janet. After all,

60MB trusted him." A Kllllt appeared in Janet ‘Man- son's eye. “Gevrsefl she retcrted, "would trust Caesar Borgia, if doing so would benefit Associated Airways Limited-and you know it!" ‘Hubert moved impatiently. ‘Carol and Larrimore are en. snsed. my dear. Surely it's obvi. W5 90011811 that they're in love with each other. And a man who's in love with a girl doesn't expose her to unnecessary risk." "Thal- Hubert. is just Tony Sothernh point. I don't know why I .1961 llks this. but r feel in my bones that something’; going dreadfully wrong over all this."

At which point Larrimcre re-en- tered the cabin, his arm through Carol's.

"I'm afraid there's no doing any. thing with Sothern," he said apologetically. "We must rngkg the best of a bad job-unless of course. you'd like me to try a rough and Jumble. and get the guns from {jllfn- He shrnsaed his shoulders. Im afraid in his preamp, mood someone would be almost can“; m

The Klngbird In Francis Bain's “Birds of P.‘

at the outstretched hand which Mrs. Manson had succeed ‘ in not seeing. '

"So that's how it is," he mut- tered.

Carol put a hand on his arm.

"What is it Rupert?"

"Don't shlrk an obvious fact. Carol. They begin to recognize the nature of the beast, and it's not a pretty nature! I told you it was all no good.“ ,

For s. moment the man's self- confidence and vigour alike seem- ed to have drained out of him. He looked somehow-withered, as if virtue had gone out of him; hag-

get hurt‘ And u n luppmm l° gard older desperate e me-" ' . l ' 1 He broke o". Caro clutched his arm against

her breast, almost wildly.

"It's all the good ln the world," she said, musterlng up s laugh, and looking up into his face.

Larrimores teeth gritted together. His eyes narrowed. I-li-s nostrils expanded. The recklessness came back into his face which Carol re- membered from that day, weeks ago at llendon, and which she had not seen since except for one eve- ning in her father's home.

"You're marvellous!" he burst out. "Right! We'll have a run for our money-J! it Ls to the back of Hades and beyond! And when shall we three meet again, I wonder?"

He kissed Carol savagely, swung his water-bottles across his shoul- der, and led the way into the aun- shine.

Outside the tent all the party

"Cowardly as ever, don't you think so, Mrs. Man-son?" he added.

Janet ‘flushed. but did not reply.

If we re lucky with the weather, and Sothern will step out. we've got a sporting chance," Larrimore concluded. “And We're starting right away," added Carol. "Come and wave at us, will you?" "Of course." said Hubert Manson, and kissed his niece affectionately before shaking hands with Larrl- more. Larrfmore was just holding out his hand to Janet Manson, when she remarked suddenly that she mllst say another word to Antony Sothern. She hurried out of the cabin, followed by her husband. Rupert Larrimore was left staring

Bil As 'Y\£.\f\(\ i.»

this type can be ruined by breed- ing to the paler classes. The Gla- cier is produced in the same way except by using the pktlnum 1n- stead of the white-face. The Gla- cier, if you can hold enough blue in them, is a good marketable pelt but it is very hard to control the

color and many are almost white." ' By Fagoly d. Shorten

was grouped, looking very trivial and tiny against the vast expanse of sand, and the sprawled bulk of the aeroplane. Only Nigel Kerr was missing-Kerr, who was sleeping peacefully Inside the tent, and en- joying in his dreams all the pleas- ures of the West End of London. A little apart from the others Antony Solhern stood, pistol in hand. the perfect Hollywood prototype of the shop-girl's desert dream. Larrlmore said nothing more ex- cept u» check up with Saunders who had undertaken the filling of the water bottles. Then he kneeled over his map, compass in hand, for s. couple of minutes, before rising abruptly, nodding to Carol, and setting off with a long loping stride (To be continued)

Refrigeration

SALES and SERVICE Repairs To All Makes

MOTORS

Rewinding and Repairs

NOTES -

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E. l.", (i891), there is this notice of the Kingbird: "This is the most common of the Flycatchers. it is a dusky colored crested bird, white below and on tip of tail. The last week in May it comes flittering nervously about -our fence borders, and remains till September gales have driven the insects from the dimming skies. It may be seen at any time in sum- mer sitting motionless, apparently listless, on a fence stake or naked bough for several minutes. Then it makes a sudden dash into the air and returns promptly to re- sume its motionless position on the same perch. This is its mode for catching insects, and is that followed by all the family (of Clamatores). The Kingbird's nest is built on the limb of a lofty fir, and is defended with great spirit by its brave occupant. It is amus- ing to see the plucky little bird drive away such great marauders as crows and hawks which actual- ly dread its persistent bee-like as- saults."

Kingbirds are in many places

l' called'"“Bee Martins’ and are ac-

cused of frequenting the vicinity of hives to capture the bees for food. Much literature exists on this subject. but the consensus of opin- ion is that Kingbirds capture only the drones, (which have no stings), ahd leave the armed workers Ullll olested.

Other observers are. inclined to encourage the presence of King- birds"near the poultry yard, for no bird of prey will make a raid while the watchful Kingblrds are on duty!

The crown-patch of red is fair- ly well concealed by black feath- ers; but when the bird is excited from any cause, the black feath- ers rise to form a crest, leaving the red patch visible.

On the North Shore here, King- birds appear to be subject’ to some sort of a cycle — abundant in some years, as in i034, and scarcer in others.

Eastern Kingblrd. AOU (M. Summer resident, common. Upper parts grayish slate-color; head darker with a concealed - ange- red patch, ‘crest rarely raised, and therefore inconspicuous. Wings dusky with much whitish edging. Upper tail coverts also darker, fail black tipped with white. Un- derparts white, tinged with gray on the breast. Immature birds have no crest. Length of adults 8.5 inches.

The Sky in filly

With the long days of July there is less chance to study the planets than at any other time of the year. Still, there ara a few astronomical events which must be noted. _

On July 2nd the Earth is in

Aphelion, I. e., it is furthest from the Sun: 94,453,000 miles distant. At the same time the Moon ls in PerIgee-nearest to the Earth — and only 229,800 miles away. 1 On Sunday, July 8rd, the Moon is in her First Quarter. There is nothing of importance till Sunday, 10th., when the Moon is Full, thus making it difficult to observe its conjunction with Jupiter at 20 hra., 34 min.

July 16th. the Moon is in Apo- gee, distant 251,100 miles, and in its Last Quarter on the 18th.

New Moon on July 25th, and on the 27th it will be in conjunction with Saturn at it! hra., 47 min.

On the 28th occurs the meteor showe known as the Delta Aqua- rida; also the Moon is in Perigea again, this time only 227,000 miles

away. There will be a conjunction of

Saturn and Venus late in the eve- ning of July 80th.

The Antieyelone. A month ago, it may be recalled, a description of the Cyclone appeared in this column._A cyclone is an area of low pressure, said the weather- man of our grands1re's day; so when he spoke of an anti-cyclone we readily and correctly suppose he meant an area of high prea- surefln the Old Country anticy- clones are usually stationary for days ,— and sometimes for weeks —together. In the central area there is radiation weather, hot sun in daytime with cool air at night. In summer there is dew in the night and. sometimes mist: in win- ter frost and fog. Outside this calm region, the winds are blow- ing in tlie direction known as clockwise. Sometimes in winter, on the southern aide of the antl- cyclone border a bitter east wind would blow out of a black sky for several days together. But. sum- mer and winter, the clear sky gives cool or cold nights. Of course the Atlantic modifies the east wind and other circumstan- ces modify the P. E. I. anticy- clones, which are never as pro- nounced. nor as interesting as its cyclones. We have just experienc- ed an anticyclone with a hill! barometer and hot sun — June 12 to 16. 1949.