316 rox. 



The general colour is a yellowish-red, or more 

 properly yellow-brown, and on the forehead, 

 shoulders, hind part of the hack as far as the be- 

 ginning of the tail, and outside of the hind legs, 

 it is a little mixed with white or ash-colour: the 

 lips, cheeks, and throat, are white, and a stripe of 

 the same colour runs along the under side of the 

 legs : the breast and belly are ash-grey or whitish- 

 grey : the tips of the ears and the feet are black : 

 the tail extremely reddish-yellow, mixed with a 

 tinge of blackish, and internally brownish yellow- 

 white, with a blackish cast; the tip itself milk- 

 white. 



The Fox prepares for himself a convenient den 

 or receptacle in which he lies concealed during 

 the greater part of the day. This den is some- 

 times said to be obtained by dispossessing the 

 Badger of its hole, and appropriating it to his 

 own purposes. It is so contrived as to afford the 

 best security to the inhabitant, by being situated 

 under hard ground, the roots of trees, &c. and is 

 besides furnished with proper outlets through 

 which he may escape in case of necessity. 



This care and dexterity in constructing himself 

 a domicil, is by the Count de Buffon considered 

 as alone sufficient to rank the Fox among the 

 higher order of quadrupeds, since it implies no 

 small degree of intelligence. 



' <f The Fox knows how to ensure his safety, by 

 providing himself with an asylum, to which he 

 retires from pressing dangers, where he dwells, 

 and where he brings up his young. He is not a 



