THE AMERICAN FOX. 



269 



bushy and partakes of the tints which predominate over the body, except at the tip, which is 

 white. The height of this animal is about a foot, and its length about two feet and a half, 

 exclusive of the tail. 



THERE are several species of Foxes, which are found in various parts of the globe, some 

 of which, such as the AMERICAN Fox, or MAKKEESIIAW, sometimes called the Cross Fox, the 

 Kit Fox, and the Arctic Fox, are tolerably familiar animals. The American Fox is very 

 variable in the color and markings of its fur, some specimens being of a pale yellow, some 

 being blackish in their general tinting, and some of a reddish-fawn, while some specimens are 

 remarkable for the manner in which the black, the white, the yellow, and the fawn are dispersed 

 over the body and limbs. In almost every specimen there is a darkish transverse stripe over 

 the shoulders, giving to the animal the title of Cross Fox. 



SILVER FOX OF OUR SOUTHERN STATES.- Vulpes fulmu. 



This animal has its full share of the crafty spirit which is so notable in the nature of all 

 Foxes. One of them, on whose track the hounds had been often laid, used always to baffle 

 them at one particular point, the crest of a rather steep hill. Up to this spot the scent was 

 perfectly good ; but at that particular spot the scent vanished, and so the Fox was lost. One 

 of the disappointed hunters was so indignant at his repeated failures that he determined to 

 lay aside the chase for a day, and to devote himself to the discovery of the means by which 

 the creature could so invariably escape from the hounds and men. He therefore concealed 

 himself near the charmed spot, and watched with much interest the proceedings of the hunted 

 animal. 



The Fox, after being driven from his cover, led the hounds a long chase through woods, 

 ponds, and thickets, and at last came at full speed towards the crest of the hill. As soon as 

 he had reached the spot, he laid himself down and pressed himself as closely as possible to the 

 ground. Presently the hounds came along in full cry, and with a blazing scent, darting over 

 the hill in hot pursuit, and never stopping until they reached the bottom of the hill. As soon 

 as the last hound had passed, the Fox resumed his legs, crept quietly over the brow of the 

 hill, and returned to his covert at leisure. 



Another of these creatures made use of a very cunning device for the same purpose. In 

 this instance, he always led his pursuers to the edge of a cliff that rose perpendicularly for 

 several hundred feet, and then disappeared. The hunters had often examined the spot, and 

 unsuccessfully, for it seemed that no wingless animal could venture to take such a fearful leap. 

 The secret was, however, at last discovered by a concealed spy. The crafty Fox was seen 

 coming quite at his leisure to the edge of the cliff, and then to look down. Some ten feet 



