THE FOX. 



been preserved by sportsmen. The cunning of the I'ox is proverbial, and 

 a whole volume might be filled with anecdotes of this animal and his wiles. 

 AVlien hunted, he uses every endeavour to baffle his pursuers, and to neutralize the 

 effects of the powerful odour which emanates from his person. 



A hunted Pox will make the most extraordinary leaps in order to break 

 the line of scent, and throw the liomuls on a false track. It will run for a 

 considerable distance in a straight line, return upon its own track, and then 

 make a powerful spring to one side, so as to induce the dogs to run forward 

 w hile it quietly steals away. 



It will take every opportunity of perfuming, or ratlier of scenting, itself with 

 any odorous substance Avitli which it can meet, in the hope of making the 

 hounds believe that they have mistaken their quarry. In fine, tlicrc are a 

 thousand wiles which this crafty animal employs and which are related by 

 every one who has watched a Fox or liuutcd it. 



Even when tamed it preserves its singular cunning. A tame Pox, that was 

 kept in a stable-yard, had managed to strike up a friendship with several of the 

 dogs, and would play with them, but could never induce the cats to ap])roach him. 

 Cats are very sensitive in their nostrils, and could not endure the vul])ine odour. 

 They would not even walk upon any spot where the Fox had been standing ; and 

 kept as far aloof as possible from him. 



The crafty animal soon perceived that the cats would not come near him, and 

 made use of his knowledge to cheat them of their breakfast. As soon as the 

 servant poured out the cats' allowance of milk, the Fox would run to the spot 

 and Avalk about the saucer, well knowing that none of the rightful owners would 

 approach the defiled locality. Day after day the cats lost their milk until 

 his stratagem was discovered, and the milk was placed in a spot where it could not 

 be reached l)y the Fox. There were three cats attached to the stables, and they 

 all partook of the same detestation j so that their abhorrence of the Foxy odour 

 seems to belong to the general character of cats, and not to be the fastidiousness 

 of a single animal, lie was also very successful in cheating the dogs of their 

 food ; achieving his thefts by the force of superior intellect. 



The Fox resides in burrows, which it scoops out of the earth by the aid of its 

 strong digging paws, taking advantage of every peculiarity of the ground, and 

 contriving, whenever it is possible, to wind its subterranean way among the roots 

 of large trees, or between heavy stones. In these " earths," as the burrows arc 

 called in the sportsman's phraseology, the female. Fox produces and mntures her 

 vounsr, which arc odd little snub-nosed creatures, resembling almost anv animal 

 i'ather than a I'ox. 



