popular iBt'cttcmari) of &mmatclr feature. 243 



FOSSANE. (Viverrafusga.) An animal 

 of the Weasel tribe, nearly allied to the 

 Genet, which it greatly resembles : its 

 colours, however, are somewhat bolder, and 

 its rows of spots along the sides more regu- 

 larly disposed : the under part of the body 

 is of a dingy white ; and the tail is annu- 

 lated with black and white. This animal is 

 said to be possessed of considerable fierce- 

 ness, destroying poultry, &c., in the manner 

 of the common weasel. It is a native of 

 Madagascar, Guinea, Cochin-Chiua, &c. 



FOSSORES. An extensive group of 

 Hymenopterous insects, forming a subsection 

 of the Aculeata. They are solitary in their 

 habits ; and most of the species are organized 

 for excavating cells in earth or wood, in 

 which they bury other insects in a wounded 

 and feeble state, and at the same time de- 

 posit their eggs ; so that the larvae, when 



their sustenance. The basal joint of the 

 posterior tarsi not being enlarged, the legs 

 are not fitted for carrying pollen, neither is 

 the body clothed with hairs, requisite for 

 its transport. Some species, the structure of 

 whose legs is not adapted for burrowing, are 

 parasitic, and, like the cuckoo among birds, 

 lay their eggs in the nests of other species, 

 at whose expense the young are reared. 

 When full grown, these lame spin a cocoon, 

 in which they pass the pupa state. The 

 perfect insects are generally very active, and 

 loud of the nectar of flowers, especially those 

 of the Umbclliienc. The work of Mr. W. E. 

 Slmckard on the British Fossorial Ilymen- 

 optera is very highly esteemed by Entomo- 

 logists, and we recommend it to those de- 

 sirous of studying the British species, often 

 endowed with such wonderfully interesting 

 habits. 



FOWL. This term, when taken in a 

 general sense, is of similar import with 

 Birds ; but, in a limited view, it more pe- 

 culiarly signifies the larger kind of birds, 

 both wild and domestic, which are either 

 reared or pursued for the purposes of food. 

 In this sense, Fowl includes all the denizens 

 of the poultry yard, with pheasants, par- 

 tridges, and all other kinds of winged game. 



FOX. (Cants vuJpee.) Of all beasts of 

 prey, the Fox is considered to be the most 

 crafty and sagacious, whether in obtaining 

 food or in eluding pursuit. They appear to 

 be pretty generally diffused throughout all 

 the northern and temperate parts of the 



globe ; occurring with numerous varieties, 

 as to colour and size, in most parts of Europe, 

 the north of Asia, and America. The Fox 

 has a broad head, a sharp snout, a flat fore- 



head, obliquely seated eyes, sharp erect ears, 

 an elongated body well covered with hair, 

 proportionally short limbs, and a straight 

 busliy tail, so long that when pendent it 

 touches the ground. The general colour is 

 a yellow-brown ; and on the forehead, 

 shoulders, hind part of the back, as far as 

 the beginning of the tail, and outside of the 

 hind legs, it is a little mixed with white or 

 ash-colour : the lips, cheek, and throat are 

 white, and a white stripe runs along the under 

 side of the legs ; the tips of the ears and the 

 feet are black : the tail a reddish-yellow, 

 mixed with a blackish tinge, and internally 

 brownish yellow-white, with a blackish cast ; 

 the tip milk white. 



The Fox varies considerably in size, but 

 in general measures about three feet six 

 inches from the snout to the end of the tail, 

 of which the latter is sixteen inches ; and 



liquity and quickness of the eye, the sharp 

 shrewd-looking muzzle, and the erect ears, 

 afford the most unequivocal indications of 

 that mingled acuteness and fraud which 

 have long rendered it a by-word and a 

 proverb ; for it is well-known that this cha- 

 racter of its physiognomy is not falsified 

 by the animal's real propensities and ha- 

 bits." 



The Fox prepares for himself a convenient 

 den in which he lies concealed during the 

 greater part of the day : this he sometimes 

 obtains by dispossessing the badger of his 

 hole ; at other times by forming his own 

 burrow ; but it is always so contrived as to 

 afford the best security to the occupant, by 

 being situated under hard ground, the roots 

 of trees, &c., and is furnished with proper 

 outlets through which he may escape when 

 hard pressed by his hunters. Prudent, pa- 

 tient, and vigilant, he waits the opportunity 

 of depredation, and varies his conduct on 

 every occasion. His domicile is generally 

 at the edge of a wood, and yet within a con- 

 venient distance of some farm-house: from 

 thence he listens to the crowing of the cock, 

 and the cackling of the domestic fowls ; 

 then, concealing his approaches, he creeps 

 stealthily along, attacks his prey, and seldom 

 returns without his booty. Poultry, phea- 

 sants, partridges, small birds, leverets, and 

 rabbits are his favourite objects : but he is 

 also fond of certain berries and fruits, and 

 can occasionally make a meal of field-mice, 

 frogs, newts, &c. The Fox seems to be 

 wholly devoid of that instinct of gratitude 



which characterizes the Dog, and is even 

 ackal ; nay, what- 

 ever kindness may be shown him when in a 



found in the Wolf and J 



state of confinement, he is still sly, timid 

 and suspicious ; insusceptible, as it would 

 seem, of any kind of attachment. His voice 

 is a kind of yelp, or stifled bark, and his bite 

 is very severe and dangerous. 



There is no animal that affords more di- 

 version to the huntsman, or that gives him 

 more occupation, than the Fox. When he 

 finds himself pursued, he usually makes for 

 his hole, and, penetrating to the bottom, lies 

 quiet till a terrier is sent in to him ; but 



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