274 



lie conceals himself under ground : at another leaps 

 under a ruinous wall, crouches among the ivy, ancf lets 

 the dogs pass him. Oftentimes he runs along one side 

 of a hedge, whilst the dogs go on the other. Some- 

 times, by several efforts, he swims across a river. Lastly, 

 at others, he obliges another hare to quit the form, in 

 order to supply his place, &c. 



The stag, which by the elegance and lightness of his 

 make, by those living branches with which his head is 

 rather adorned than armed, his size, strength, and noble 

 air, is one of the graad ornaments of the forest, is en- 

 dued with more subtlety than even the hare, and finds 

 more exercise for the sagacity of the huntsman. 



When pursued by the hounds, he passes and re-passes 

 several times on his track ; eludes their pursuit by as- 

 sorting himself with other beasts, darts forward, and 

 immediately flees to a distance ; starts aside, and steals 

 away, and lies prostrate on his belly. The land be- 

 traying him every where, he betakes himself to the 

 water. The hind, that nourishes her young, presents 

 herself to the dogs, in order to facilitate the escape of 

 her young; she runs away with swiftness, and afterwards 

 returns to it. 



32. The fox, celebrated for his subtlety, is no less 

 circumspect than skilful, no less vigilant than crafty 5 

 he weighs cautiously the least of his measures, studies 

 circumstances, watches incessantly, and has always some 

 contrivance in reserve to assist him upon an exigency. 

 His genius, so fruitful in resources, multiplies almost to 

 infinity his shifts and stratagems. 



Though extremely fleet in running, he does not trust 

 to his natural swiftness : he judges that that alone would 

 not be sufficient for his preservation. He works for 

 himself a timely asylum under ground ; where he takes 

 refuge in case of necessity, and lodges, and brings up 

 his family. 



He establishes his dwelling-place on the border of 

 woods, aed m the neighbourhood of farm-houses. He 



