Chromosome Number in the Blue Fox (Alopex lagopus (L.))

Abstract

THE materials examined consisted of testes from five farm-bred blue foxes (Alopex lagopus (L.)) which were killed by electrocution during the breeding season. The testes were immediately removed, teased in distilled water where they remained for about 10 min. and then the pieces were put in either aceto-orcein or 50 per cent acetic acid. From the aceto-orcein coloured preparations, temporary slides were made by the usual squash methods. The preparations fixed in 50 per cent acetic acid were squashed in the same manner and coloured by the Feulgen method¹.