The Common Red Fox. 219 



the Pox is a most accomplished mouser, we know from our own personal 

 observations. A few years ago, in the Township of Gloucester, near Ottawa, 

 we shot a female fox which was at the time running across a meadow near 

 the forest, and at a distance from the farm house. It was sunrise one morn- 

 ing about the middle of the month of May, and we fired at the animal at a long 

 rifle range, more with the thought of frightening than with the hope of killing 

 it. By chance, however, the ball took effect, and the Fox dropped suddenly 

 dead. It had been stricken through the heart. Upon examination we found 

 it to be a female who had spent perhaps the greater portion of the night in 

 collecting food for her young. In her mouth were seven meadow mice and 

 two small shrews, of what species we did not then think of ascertaining. It 

 appears to us that these small quadrupeds must be much more rare in the 

 spring than in the autumn, and that a single fox could collect so many in one 

 excursion is a proof of their excellent capacity for hunting. It is probable 

 that after she had caught one she left it in some safe place while she sought 

 out and captured another, which she deposited along with the first, and then 

 caught others. They were all lying lengthwise across her mouth, their tails 

 and heads projecting more or less from between her lips. Had we known 

 her mission, we certainly would have allowed her to pass without molestation. 

 It is said, however, that both parents hunt for their young, and perhaps 

 therefore the orphan family in this instance was not left totally destitute. 



The Eed Fox will catch birds, both by lying in wait for them and by 

 trailing them up in the manner of a pointer dog, until watching an oppor- 

 tunity he can pounce or spring upon them. Audubon relates the following 

 of a Grey Fox, and states that the Red Fox will hunt in the same way : — 



" On a cold, drizzly, sleety, rainy day, while travelling in Carolina, we 

 observed a Grey Fox in a field of broom-grass, coursing against the wind, 

 and hunting in the manner of a pointer dog. We stopped to witness his 

 manoeuvres, suddenly he stood still, and squatted low on his hunches ; a 

 moment after he proceeded on once more, but with slow and cautious steps ; 

 at times his nose was raised high in the air, moving about from side to side. 

 At length he seemed to be sure of his game, and went straight forward, 

 although very slowly, at times crawling on the earth ; he was occasionally 

 hidden by the grass, so that we could not see him very distinctly ; however, 

 at length we observed him make a dead halt. There was no twisting or 

 horizontal movement of the tail, like that made by the common house cat 

 when ready to make a spring ; but his tail seemed resting on the side, whilst 

 his ears were drawn back and his head raised only a few incl .os from the eartli ; 

 he remained in this attitude nearly half a minute, and thi^n made a sudden 

 pounce upon his prey ; at the same instant the whirring of the distracted 

 covey was heard, as the affrighted birds took wing; two or three sharp 

 screams succeeded, and the successful prowler immediately passed out of the 

 field with an unfortunate partridge in his mouth, evidently with the intention 

 of seeking a more retired spot to make a dainty meal. We had a gun with 

 us, and he passed within long gun shot of us. But, why wound or destroy 

 him. He has enabled us for the first time to bear witness that he is not only 



