1 8 GAME AN'IMALS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



before, can be reached he disappears over the crest of the hill. An 

 old she-fox with young, to supply them with food, will soon deplete 

 the hen-roost and destroy both old and great numbers of very young 

 chickens. Foxes generally travel by night. As before mentioned 

 they follow regular runs, but are exceedingly shy of any invention 

 for their capture, and the use of traps is almost futile. When occa- 

 sionally they do " put their foot in it " they will gnaw the captured 

 pedal extremity entirely through and escape, leaving this member 

 as a memento. In this respect they fully support their ancient repu- 

 tation for cunning. They will use most adroit tactics in throwing 

 dogs off their scent when hotly pursued. The western species is 

 not hunted in any manner. 



Their flesh is probably as good food as dog-meat, but is not gen- 

 erally classed by epicures as among the good things of this earth. 

 Their food consists, besides chickens, of geese, ducks and young 

 turkeys, also grouse and quail when they can be procured without 

 a great outlay of labor ; but the farmyard generally furnishes a cheap 

 and staple diet to Reynard. 



In closing we add a fervent hope that the " Yoicks " and " Tal- 

 ly ho "will soon again be heard throughout the South, and the 

 echoes be borne afar and taken up by the Northern sportsmen who 

 still love the exciting chase and chivalric deeds, concomitants of 

 an old-fashioned fox hunt. 



