MAMMALS. 55 



another. Mr. Dumville Lees relates the following 

 touching instance of the devotion of a Fox to its mate : 

 "In Scotland, where Foxes are often shot, a wounded 

 Vixen crept away to a lonely hillside to die. It was in 

 the winter, and the ground covered with snow. Here 

 she was found stark dead next morning, and lying round 

 her seven or eight animals and birds, including a 

 Mountain Hare, while on the snow were the tracks of a 

 Fox leading off in all directions. It was evident that 

 the Fox had found its mate, and, unable to understand 

 what was the matter, had spent the whole night scouring 

 the country side in search of dainties to tempt her 

 appetite. He must have covered a very great distance 

 in the time, for the nearest point where he could have 

 procured the Hare was many miles away, and at a 

 considerable elevation." The appearance of the Fox, 

 with his lithe red body, pointed muzzle and ears, and 

 bushy tail, is too well known to need description. The 

 disagreeable scent is due to the secretion of a gland 

 under the tail. Total length, 3^ to 4 feet. The number 

 of cubs in a litter is from three to five. The Fox, like the 

 Wolf, is a species of Dog, and has been known to inter- 

 breed with the domestic species, the crosses being known 

 as "Cocktails." Young Foxes have often been kept in 

 kennels, but never take to a master like Dogs, and 

 resume their wild life as soon as an opportunity to escape 

 presents itself. A peculiarly sly look is imparted to the 

 Fox by the oblique position of the eyes and their 

 elliptical pupils. 



PINE MARTEN. This beautiful animal is now extinct in 



Mustela martes. Shropshire, though it is still found in 



a few thickly-wooded parts of Wales, 



