60 THE SNOW -WALKERS. 



perceive your dog, with inverted tail, and shame and 

 confusion in his looks, sneaking toward you, the old 

 fox but a few rods in his rear. You speak to him 

 sharply, when he bristles up, turns about, and, bark- 

 ing, starts off vigorously, as if to wipe out the dis- 

 honor ; but in a moment comes sneaking back more 

 abashed than ever, and owns himself unworthy to be 

 called a dog. The fox fairly shames him out of the 

 woods. The secret of the matter is her sex, though 

 her conduct, for the honor of the fox be it said, seems 

 to be prompted only by solicitude for the safety of 

 her young. 



One of the most notable features of the fox is his 

 large and massive tail. Seen running on the snow, 

 at a distance, his tail is quite as conspicuous as his 

 body ; and, so far from appearing a burden, seems to 

 contribute to his lightness and buoyancy. It softens 

 the outline of his movements, and repeats or contin- 

 ues to the eye the ease and poise of his carriage. 

 But, pursued by the hound on a wet, thawy day it 

 often becomes so heavy and bedraggled as to prove 

 a serious inconvenience, and compels him to take 

 refuge in his den. He is very loath to do this ; both 

 his pride and the traditions of his race stimulate him 

 to run it out, and win by fair superiority of wind and 

 speed ; and only a wound or a heavy and moppish 

 tail will drive him to avoid the issue in this manner. 



To learn his surpassing shrewdness and cunning, 

 attempt to take him with a trap. Rogue that he is, 

 he always suspects some trick, and one must be more 



