THE FOX. 127 



THE FOX 



Is an animal well known in most countries, and common in 

 every part of Great Britain. All the keepers of poultry are well 

 acquainted with his depredations, of which at one time or an- 

 other he gives them a specimen ; for he is not less artful in at- 

 tacking the hen-roost, than the wolf is determined in assaulting 

 the sheep-fold. 



Hunting the fox is a healthful exercise, and constitutes one of 

 the favourite diversions of the gentlemen of Great Britain. There 

 is perhaps no part of the world where it is pursued with equal 

 ardour and intrepidity. Both their dogs and horses are supe- 

 rior to those of every other country for this kind of chase, and 

 yet they have sometimes, especially the latter, fallen victims to 

 the ardour and length of the pursuit, which has in some instances 

 continued from forty to fifty miles without intermission, and some- 

 times at full speed. One of the most celebrated chases recorded 

 in the annals of fox-hunting, is that of the noted old fox Cassar, 

 started from Ayrcyholine, in the county of Durham, by Mr. C. 

 Turner's hounds. The length of this chase was above fifty miles; 

 and Mr. Bewick says, that Mr. Turner tired three horses ; and 

 that no more than three dogs continued the pursuit, when he 

 thought proper to call them off in the evening. 



The moment that a fox finds himself pursued, he flies toward 

 some of his holes; but these being always stopped up before the 

 chase begins, he has no other resource than his speed and cun- 

 ning. He does not double like the hare, but continues his course 

 straight forward, with great vigour and perseverance. A con- 

 stant chase has sometimes been thus kept up for seven or eight 

 hours together, or even for a longer time. 



The scent which the fox leaves behind him being exceeding 

 strong, he appears sensible of that circumstance, arid uses every 

 artifice to bewilder the dogs, and throw them out of their track. 

 He generally takes advantage of the wind, and often crosses 

 rivers, swims down small streams, or runs along the top of a 

 wall, or an artificial hedge, in order to interrupt the continuity 

 of the scent, and puzzle the dogs ; and his artful contrivances 

 often succeed so well, as to ensure its safety. His urine is so 

 offensive to the dogs, that it sometimes proves the means of fa- 

 cilitating his escape. If he find himself, in spite of all his shifts, 

 at last overtaken, he defends himself with obstinacy until he is 

 torn in pieces. 



The fox generally fixes his residence at the edge of a wood 

 not far removed from some village or hamlet, where he can listen 

 with rapture to the crowing of a cock, the cackling of poultry, 



