THE DOG KIND. 



323 



The fox has since the beginning been fa- 

 mous for his cunning and his arts, and he part- 

 ly merits his reputation." Without attempt- 

 ing to oppose either the dogs or the shep- 

 herds, without attacking the Hock, or alarm- 

 ing the village, he finds an easier way to sub- 

 sist, and gains by his address what is denied 

 to his strength or courage. Patient and pru- 

 dent, he waits the opportunity of depredation, 

 and varies his conduct with every occasion. 

 His whole study is his preservation ; although 

 nearly as indefatigable, and actually more 

 swift than the wolf, he does not entirely trust 

 to either, but makes himself an asylum, to 

 which he retires in case of necessity; where 

 he shelters himself from danger, and brings 

 up his young. 



As among men, those who lead a domestic 

 life are more civilized and more endued with 

 wisdom than those who wander from place to 

 place ; so, in the inferior ranks of animated 

 nature, the taking possession of a home sup- 

 poses a degree of instinct which others are 

 without. 11 The choice of the situation for this 

 domic.il, the art of making it convenient, of 

 hiding its entrance, and securing it against 

 more powerful animals, are all so many marks 

 of superior skill and industry. The fox is fur- 

 nished with both, and turns them to his ad- 

 vantage. He generally keeps his kennel at 

 the edge of (he wood, and yet within an easy 

 journey of soine neighbouring cottage. From 

 thence he listens to the crowing of the cock, 

 and the cackling of the domestic fowls. He 

 scents them at a distance ; he seizes his op- 

 portunity, conceals his approaches, creeps 

 slily along, makes the attack, and seldom re- 

 turns without his booty. If he be able to get 

 into the yard, he begins by levelling all the 

 poultry without remorse, and carrying off a 

 part of the spoil, hides it at some convenient 

 distance, and again returns to the charge. 

 Taking off another fowl in the same manner, 

 he hides that also, but not in the same place ; 

 and this he practises for several times together, 

 until the approach of day, or the noise of the 

 domestics, give him warning to retire. The 

 same arts are practised when he finds birds 

 entangled in springes laid for them by the 

 fowler; the fox takes care to be beforehand, 



Buflbn, Renard. 

 NO. 27&2S. 



Ibid. 



very expertly takes the bird out of the snare, 

 hides it for three or four days, and knows very 

 exactly when and where to return to avail 

 himself of the hidden treasure. He is equal- 

 ly alert in seizing the young hares and rab- 

 bits before they have strength enough to es- 

 cape him, and when the old ones are wound- 

 ed and fatigued, he is sure to come upon them 

 in their moments of distress, and to show them 

 no mercy. In the same manner he finds out 

 birds' nests, seizes the partridge and the quail 

 while sitting, and destroys a large quantity of 

 game. The wolf is most hurtful to the pea- 

 sant, but the fox to the gentleman. In short, 

 nothing that can be eaten seems to come 

 amiss; rats, mice, serpents, toads, and lizards. 

 He will, when urged by hunger, eat vegeta- 

 bles and insects ; and those that live near the 

 sea-coasts will, for want of other food, eat 

 crabs, shrimps, and shell-fish. The hedge- 

 hog in vain rolls itself up into a ball to op- 

 pose him, this determined glutton teases it 

 until it is obliged to appear uncovered, and 

 then he devours it The wasp and the wild 

 bee are attacked with equal -success. Al- 

 though at first they fly out upon the invader, 

 and actually oblige him to retire, this is but 

 for a few minutes, until he has rolled himself 

 upon the ground, and thus crushed such as 

 stick to his skin; he then returns lo the charge, 

 and at last, by perseverance, obliges them to 

 abandon their combs; which he greedily de- 

 vours, both wax and honey. 



The chase o r the fox requires less prepa- 

 ration than that of the wolf, and it is also 

 more pleasant and amusing. As dogs have 

 a natuial repugnance to pursue the wolf, so 

 they are equally alert in following the fox; 

 which they prefer even to the chase of the 

 hare or the buck. The huntsmen, as upon 

 other occasions, have their cant terms for 

 every part of this chase. The fox the first 

 year is called a cub; the second, a fox ; and 

 the third an old fox; his tail is called the 

 brush or drag, and his excrement the billiting. 

 He is usually pursued by a large kind of har- 

 rier or hound, assisted by terriers, or a smal- 

 ler breed, that follow him into his kennel, and 

 attack him there. The instant he perceives 

 himself pursued, he makes to his kennel, and 

 takes refuge at the bottom of it, where for a 

 while he loses the cry of his enemies ; but 



3E 



