THET COMMON FOX. 



On pacing the distance, he has generally found it 

 twenty or thirty feet. From the marks, (though 

 the animal is sometimes, fortunate enough to suc- 

 ceed,) this gentleman says, it is evident that he 

 much more frequently misses his prey, than se- 

 cures it. 



In warm weather, the Fox will often quit his 

 habitation, in the day time, for the sake of bask- 

 ing in sunshine or enjoying the fresh air. He, 

 however, very rarely lies exposed, but generally 

 chuses some thick brake, where he is secure from 

 being surprised. In his repose, he stretches out 

 his hind legs, and lies on his belly. In this position 

 he espies the birds as they alight on the places near 

 him, and is ready to spring on such as, unfortu- 

 nately for themselves, come within his reach. 

 Crows, magpies, and some other birds, have such 

 an antipathy to the Fox, that they often give 

 notice of his retreat by the most clamorous notes; 

 and they will, occasionally, follow him with their 

 screams, from tree to tree, to a considerable dis- 

 tance. 



That the power of limb and the speed of Foxes, 

 are very great, is proved by their having kept 

 Hounds at full stretch, in pursuit of them, in some 

 instances, for eight or ten hours. In one Fox- 

 chase in Yorkshire, some of the Horses were so 

 much fatigued as to die on the field*. 9 



*See the preceding account of the Hound, p. 106. 



When 



