268 THE FOX. 



At night, while walking over various roads, I have frequently been aware that a Fox had 

 crossed the path, and could have followed up the scent for some distance. 



It is by this scent that the hounds are able to follow the footsteps of a flying Pox, and to 

 run it down by their superior speed and endurance. The Fox, indeed, seems to be aware that 

 its pursuers are guided in their chase by this odor, and puts in practice every expedient that 

 its-fertile brain can produce in order to break the continuity of the scent, or to overpower it 

 by the presence of other odors, which are more powerful, though not more agreeable. A 

 hunted Fox will make the most extraordinary leaps in order to break the line of scent, and 

 throw the hounds on a false track. It will run for a considerable distance in a straight line, 

 return upon its own track, and then make a powerful spring to one side, so as to induce the 

 dogs to run forward while it quietly steals away. It will take every opportunity of perfuming, 

 or rather of scenting, itself with any odorous substance with which it can meet, in the hope of 

 making the hounds believe that they have mistaken their quarry. In fine, there are a thousand 

 wiles which this crafty animal employs, and which are related by every one who has watched 

 a Fox or hunted it. 



Even when tamed it preserves its singular cunning. A tame Fox, that was kept in a 

 stable-yard, had managed to strike up a friendship with several of the dogs, and would play 

 with them, but could never induce the cats to approach him. Cats are very sensitive in their 

 nostrils, and could not endure the vulpine odor. They would not even walk upon any spot 

 where the Fox had been standing, and kept as far aloof as possible from him. 



The crafty animal soon perceived that the cats would not come near him, and made use 

 of his knowledge to cheat them of their breakfast. As soon as the servant poured out the 

 cats' allowance of milk, the Fox would run to the spot and walk about the saucer, well know- 

 ing that none of the rightful owners would approach the defiled locality. Day after day the 

 cats lost their milk until the vulpine stratagem was discovered, and the milk was placed in a 

 spot where it could not be reached by the Fox. There were three cats attached to the stables, 

 and they all partook of the same detestation ; so that their abhorrence of the vulpine odor 

 seems to belong to the general character of cats, and not to the fastidious individuality of a 

 single animal. He was also very successful in cheating the dogs of their food, achieving his 

 thefts by the force of superior intellect. 



The same animal was cunning enough to procure a supply of milk, even after he had been 

 prevented from robbing the cats. On one occasion, as the dairymaid was passing along with 

 her pails, the Fox went up to her, and brushed himself against one of the milk-pails. In con- 

 sequence of this contact, the milk became so tainted with the smell of the Fox that the dairy- 

 maid did not venture to bring it to the house, and rather thoughtlessly poured it out into a 

 vessel, and gave it to the Fox. The crafty animal took advantage of the circumstance, and 

 watched for the coming of the maid with her. pails, in order to repeat the process. Several 

 times he succeeded in his project, but when he found that the spoiled milk was given to the 

 pigs, instead of being appropriated to his own use, he ceased his nefarious attempts. 



He detested all ragged beggars, and was so energetic in his hostile demonstrations, that 

 he realized the truth of the proverb, " Set a thief to catch a thief." The horses hated him with 

 as thorough a detestation as that in which the cats held him. His presence in the stable would 

 set the horses in confusion, and make them plunge about in a restless and uneasy manner. 



The Fox resides in burrows, which it scoops out of the earth by the aid of its strong dig- 

 ging paws, taking advantage of every peculiarity of the ground, and contriving, whenever it is 

 possible, to wind its subterranean way among the roots of large trees, or between heavy stones. 

 In these "earths," as the burrows are called in the sportsman's phraseology, the female Fox 

 produces and nurtures her young, which are odd little snub-nosed creatures, resembling almost 

 any animal rather than a Fox. She watches over her offspring with great care, and teaches 

 them by degrees to subsist on animal food, which she and her mate capture for that purpose. 



The color of the common Fox is a reddish-fawn, intermixed with black and white hairs. 

 The hair is long and thick, being doubly thick during the colder months of the year, so that 

 the fur of a Fox which is killed in the winter is more valuable than if the animal had been 

 slain in the hot months. The tail, which is technically termed the "brush," is remarkably 



