204 FOUR-FOOTED AMERICANS 



finds, and Olive lias to keep two collars for him ; as she 

 says, ' one to wear and one to air.' " 



" It is an unsettled question why this rolling is done ; 

 but it is a fact that the dog family, with a few excep- 

 tions, are as fond of rolling in carrion as a cat is of 

 catnip. The Arctic Fox is more clean and particular 

 than his cousins, perhaps because he has less chance of 

 having spoiled meat left on his hands, and his odor is 

 far less disagreeable than that of tlie Red Fox. 



'' The Arctic Foxes live in burrows between earth 

 and rocks," continued the Doctor, '' very much like 

 their more southern cousins ; but instead of being wilder 

 the}^ are much less sly and suspicious than other Foxes. 

 It is easy to see the reason of this. The}^ live beyond 

 the usual reach of civilized man, and the Eskimo who 

 hunts them seldom uses firearms, so these Foxes stop 

 to look at pursuers or bark at them from the doors of 

 their dens very mncli like half- wild dogs. They fall 

 into the simplest kinds of traps and count their worst 

 enemies the Polar Bear and ever-hungry Wolf, Avho 

 vie with them in hardiness. Then, too, they enjoy the 

 safety of color protection, — snow-white fur to blend 

 with the snow itself." 



'' Talking of Foxes," said Mr. Blake, coming across 

 the shed where he had been helping Nez fold the Fox 

 skin, fur in, so that it could be carried back to the farm 

 to be cured, '' do you know how Foxes defend them- 

 selves when they fight each other ? " 



'' No," said Rap, '' unless they bite and scratch I " 



" They stand at a little distance apart growling and 

 snapping ; when one springs, the other brings round 

 his bushy tail to act like a shield to his head and throat. 



