A ROADSIDE NATURALIST. 



exits for the hares in the line of fencing, but Reynard 

 had cunningly befouled the lot. Then he set to 

 work, singled out a hare, and chased him like a 

 greyhound. Mad with fear, the hare took the fence, 

 clearing it like any steeplechaser, and came down 

 smash into the road below, being completely stunned 

 for the time by his impetuous leap. Through the 

 hare's mews at the foot of the fence slipped the fox, 

 showing his tusks in pleasant anticipation of a nice 

 meal easily procured. His schemes, however, on 

 that particular morning were curiously frustrated ; 

 for as puss in her leap hurtled past the head of a 

 certain workman early on his way, getting stunned 

 in her fall on the road, she was picked up, with the 

 remark that if he allowed her to lie there some cart 

 might run over her. The look on that fox's face as 

 he stood in view on the bank-top, before he sneaked 

 off, was a sight to see. 



When Reynard dashes into a covey of partridges 

 dusting themselves by the roadside, he uses his fore- 

 paws with cat-like dexterity, cuffing the birds down. 

 I have known him bury what he could not eat at the 

 time of capture close to the well-frequented carriage- 

 drive of a gentleman's house, and have watched him 



