2 THE FOX 



the fox not only escapes but benefits by the efforts 

 made for his destruction. Even the fox's worst 

 enemy, man, helps him by killing down the wolf, the 

 strongest, swiftest, most persevering foe he has. The 

 fox-chase, which began as a genuine vermin-hunt, is 

 now the best protection the race has in England. 

 During the last hundred years the number of foxes 

 has increased enormously in this country. 



But, indeed, wherever the fox has come in con- 

 tact with man he has been of importance in the 

 literature and life of his most subtle enemy. The 

 truth about the audacity, cunning, and intelligence 

 of the fox is so marvellous that it is no wonder 

 that he has become a popular hero of fable and 

 folklore. 



At one time I thought the fox was fairly well 

 known to me, but the observations and inquiries on 

 which the following chapters are based have shown 

 how much there is still to know. After many years' 

 study of the fox we shall find that he is most difficult 

 to dogmatise about. His intelligence is a most 

 profitable study in animal psychology, of which it 

 has only been possible to skim the surface here. 

 I have tried to verify my facts and anecdotes and to 

 avoid reading into them my own preconceived ideas 

 and theories ; and I hope they may be accepted as 



