A Winter Walk 291 



some wall. It is such a lacework pattern that 

 you will never mistake it. 



" It is almost as much of a mystery how the 

 fox survives when we remember that his prin- 

 cipal article of diet, in the seasons when the 

 ground is not covered with snow, is mice. He 

 rarely catches any in the winter, although he 

 occasionally digs down to the grass and tries 

 his luck. 



" Nearly all the other small game upon 

 which he relies in the summer is now denned 

 up, and Mr. Fox has to sharpen his wits or go 

 hungry. 



" But he is a clever fellow and will get his 

 dinner in some way, where more stupid ani- 

 mals would starve. 



" I am afraid, even as it is, that he would 

 often go hungry if it were not for the poor 

 rabbit, who is food for both bird and beast, 

 and probably the most widely hunted creature 

 that runs on four legs. 



" The hawk, the owl, the weasel, the wild- 

 cat, the lynx, the fisher, and last, but not least, 

 Sly Reynard, all dine on the poor rabbit, and 



