38 CROSS BETWEEN DOG AND FOX. 



instance, " I captured several young foxes, but only retained 

 a single male alive, which was chained up, not only until 

 full-grown, but for a whole year afterwards. At this period 

 I had a pointer-bitch, which kept much in company with 

 the fox, and at length paired with him. In process of time 

 she brought forth several puppies, and amongst them one 

 that greatly resembled its father, more especially as regarded 

 the tail, which was nearly straight and very bushy. This 

 I kept until more than a year old, during which I remarked 

 that he very seldom barked, and that when he did so his 

 bark was unlike that of a common dog. That he might in 

 time have become a good sporting dog, I think very pro- 

 bable ; but as he was exceedingly addicted to worrying sheep 

 and poultry, I was obliged to destroy him." 



Instances are on record with us in England, I believe, of 

 fox-cubs having been brought up by bitches. But I do not 

 remember hearing of the house cat having acted the part of 

 a wet-nurse towards them, as has been the case in Sweden. 



"During the month of May, 1830," says the Chamber- 

 lain, O. Nordenfeldt, "a fox was found to have littered 

 under a barn, at some distance from the mansion. The 

 discovery was made in consequence of a bitch-fox being seen 

 about noon to chase a cat into a tree, from which, after 

 having been besieged for some time, she fell from fright, and 

 retreated under the building in question. Michel followed 

 close at her heels : and a report having been made of the 

 circumstance, all the outlets about the barn were closed, the 

 door opened, and the fox (which was at once killed) was 

 found within it as well as the cat. Farther search was now 

 made, and under the floor, composed of loose boards, four 

 small, dark, ash-grey coloured and blind cubs were disco- 



