28 



THE PESTS OF THE FARM. 



Like all his kindred species, the red fox is distinguished by the 

 possession of keen senses and great sagacity or craftiness, which 

 enables him a. most to bid defiance to traps, while his strength and 

 swiftness of foot render it extremely difficult to capture him in the 

 chase. Once fairly roused by the hounds, this animal dashes off 

 with great speed, and soon far outstrips pursuit, and did he not 

 lose the advantage of his celerity by remitting his efforts, might 

 soon render the exertions of the sportsman nugatory. But the 



THE FOX. 



persevering hounds again and again drive him to his utmost speed, 

 and eventually wear him down, though not until a wide extent of 

 country has been traversed, and huntsmen, horses and dogs have 

 suffered severely from fatigue. 



The general color of this fox when in full summer pelage, is 

 bright ferruginous on the head, back and sides, but less brilliant 

 towards the tail. Beneath the chin it is white, while the throat 

 and neck are a dark gray, which color is continued along the an- 

 terior part of the belly in a narrower stripe that passes along the 

 breast. The under parts of the body towards the tail are very 

 pale red ; and the anterior parts of the fore legs and feet, 

 as well as the fronts of the inferior part of the hind legs, an 



