THE FOX. 



199 



manner, he hides that also, but not in the same place ; and 

 this he practices for several times together, until the approach 

 of day, or the noise of the domestics, give him warning to 

 retire. The same arts are practised when he finds birds 

 entangled in springes laid for them by the fowler ; the fox 

 takes care to be beforehand, very expertly takes the bird out 

 of the snare, hides it for three or four days, and knows very 

 exactly when and where to return to avail himself of the 

 hidden treasure. He is equally alert in seizing the young 

 hares and rabbits before they have strength enough to escape 

 him, and when the old ones are wounded and fatigued, he is 

 sure to come upon them in their moments of distress, and to 

 show them no mercy. In the same manner he finds out 

 birds' nests, seizes the partridge and the quail while sitting, 

 and destroys a large quantity of game. The wolf is most 

 hurtful to the peasant, but the fox to the gentleman. In short, 

 nothing that can be eaten seems to come amiss ; rats, mice, 

 serpents, toads, and lizards. He will, when urged by hunger, 

 eat vegetables and insects ; and those that live near the sea- 

 ooasts will, for want of other food, eat crabs, shrimps, and 

 shell-fish. The hedge-hog in vain rolls itself up into a ball to 

 oppose him ; this determined glutton teazes it until it is 

 obliged to appear uncovered, and then he devours it. The 

 wasp and the wild bee are attacked with equal success. 

 Although at first they fly out upon the invader, and actually 

 oblige him to retire, this is but for a few minutes, until he has 

 rolled himself upon the ground, and thus crushed such as 

 stick to his skin ; he then returns to the charge, and at last, 

 by perseverance, obliges them to abandon their combs ; which 

 he greedily devours, both wax and honey. 



The chase of the fox requires less preparation than that of 

 the wolf, and it is also more pleasant and amusing. As dogs 

 have a natural repugnance to pursue the wolf, so they are 

 equally alert in following the fox ; which they prefer even to 

 the chase of the hare or the buck. The huntsmen, as upon 

 other occasions, have their cant terms for every part of this 

 ohase. The fox the first year is called a cub ; the second, a 



