THE FOX AND THE BADGER. 49 



According to Pontoppidan, when the fox is hungry, it 

 sets out on a piscatorial excursion ; arrived at the sea- 

 side, it insinuates its bushy tail in the water near large 

 stones, when crabs, small lobsters, and oysters seize 

 the hairy appendage, and are drawn out by Reynard, 

 who thus makes a hearty meal. But the following 

 stratagem is more singular. Some fishermen on the 

 coast were astonished one day by seeing a fox care- 

 fully laying the heads of fishes in a row near one of 

 their cottages. They could not imagine at first what 

 Michel was about; but on closely watching its mo- 

 tions, the mystery was explained. The fox concealed 

 itself behind a large stone, and pounced on the first 

 crow that came, attracted by the bait. 



The fox gets possession of the badger's den in this 

 manner : When the badger is absent, Reynard visits 

 its den, where he conducts himself in a very disrepu- 

 table manner, dirts about, and leaves such a disagree- 

 able smell behind him, that when poor Broc returns 

 home and discovers the state of affairs, he heaves a 

 profound sigh, and 'vacates the premises in despair. 

 The fox, who has concealed himself within view, no 

 sooner observes the departure of the badger, than he 

 enters in and takes possession. The Norwegian fox 

 outwits the otter in an ingenious manner. Having 

 discovered the favourite fishing ground of the otter, 

 the fox hides himself near, generally behind a stone. 

 The otter comes out of the water fish in mouth, which 

 it lays on the ground, preparatory to a feast. The 

 fox at this critical moment makes a sudden spring 

 from his hiding place, the otter starts back in blank 

 astonishment, and Reynard is soon at a safe distance 

 with his prize. 



