FOXES AND SNOW-SHOES 199 



ticulai- view of Nez' ^renagerie, and look at Nat's Fox, 

 which was to be skinned for him to take home. 



" I Avonder if the tame Fox knows that the old Fox 

 may be one of his relations, perhaps his grandfather ? " 

 said Rap, as the little beanty sniffed about the skin 

 that Nez was peeling off as neatly as a glove turned 

 wrong side out. 



" I should not be surprised at anytlung a Fox may 

 know," said the Doctor, " for in spite of the fact that 

 they are continually hunted, they still manage to out- 

 wit House People, and increase and live even about our 

 hen houses. This little Fox evidently recognizes one 

 of his own family. I even fancy I can see a look of 

 recognition in his eyes as he sniffs." 



" Which do you think are the very cleverest Ameri- 

 can fourfoots ? " asked Rap. 



" The Beaver has a very special sort of intelligence 

 in the way of building his home, damming up the water 

 necessary to protect it and in storing up food; but for 

 pure wit and cunning I think the dog family, or 

 Canidce, must be given first place." 



"The dog family! I didn't know there were any real 

 American dogs," said Nat. 



" Wolves, Foxes, and the Coyote of the plains are 

 first cousins of the dogs Ave keep as companions. 

 Don't you know that we have called our big dog Mr. 

 Wolf because he is about the size and the shape, 

 though not the color, of the Timber AVolf ? " 



'' These Red Foxes look like dear little collie dogs, 

 except that their tails are rounder," said Rap. 



" You have often watched Mr. Wolf and Quick go 

 hunting together, starting off as if they had a regular 



