78 WINTER SUNSHINE 



fence, or some other object, and squeak as nearly 

 like a mouse as possible. Reynard will hear the 

 sound at an incredible distance. Pricking up his 

 ears, he gets the direction, and comes trotting 

 along as unsuspiciously as can be. I have never 

 had an opportunity to try the experiment, but I 

 know perfectly reliable persons who have. One 

 man, in the pasture getting his cows, called a fox 

 which was too busy mousing to get the first sight, 

 till it jumped upon the wall just over where he 

 sat secreted. Giving a loud whoop and jumping 

 up at the same time, the fox came as near being 

 frightened out of his skin as I suspect a fox ever 

 was. 



In trapping for the fox, you get perhaps about as 

 much "fun" and as little fur as in any trapping 

 amusement you can engage in. The one feeling 

 that ever seems present to the mind of Reynard is 

 suspicion. He does not need experience to teach 

 him, but seems to know from the jump that there is 

 such a thing as a trap, and that a trap has a way of 

 grasping a fox's paw that is more frank than friendly. 

 Cornered in a hole or den, a trap can be set so that 

 the poor creature has the desperate alternative of 

 being caught or starve. He is generally caught, 

 though not till he has braved hunger for a good 

 many days. 



But to know all his cunning and shrewdness, bait 

 him in the field, or set your trap by some carcass 

 where he is wont to come. In some cases he will 

 uncover the trap, and leave the marks of his con- 



