THE COMMON 'FOX. 



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Hounds at Croydon. The animal was turned out, 

 and escaped. He returned to his coppice, and was 

 again taken, sent as before, and hunted. The same 

 round of circumstances took place, in the whole, 

 not less than four times; but at last, after a very 

 severe chase, he was killed. 



In the neighbourhood of Imber, in Wiltshire, in 

 the year 1793, a Fox, being run hard, took shelter 

 under the covering of a well, and, by the endea- 

 vours used to force him thence, was precipitated 

 a hundred feet, to the bottom. The bucket was 

 let down for him. He laid hold of it, and was drawn 

 up some way, when he again fell. The bucket be- 

 ing let down a second time, he secured his situation 

 in it, and was drawn up safe ; after which he was 

 turned off and killed by the Hounds. 



The voice of the Fox is a kind of yelping bark, 

 which consists of a quick succession of similar 

 tones, at the end of which he frequently raises it 

 to somewhat like the cry of a peacock. In winter, 

 and particularly during frost and snow,, he yelps 

 much; but in summer is almost entirely silent. 

 His smell is proverbially fetid and offensive; and so 

 exactly resembles that of the root of crown impe- 

 rial, as scarcely to be distinguished from it. This 

 odour proceeds chiefly from certain glands which 

 are situated at the base of the tail. 



The Fox will allow himself to be killed with a 

 bludgeon, without uttering any notes of complaint; 

 but he always defends himself to the last, with the 



K greatest 



