THE FOX. 



also exert an extraordinary degree of cunning in their mode 

 of obtaining fish. They go into the water, and make a splash 

 with their feet in order to excite their curiosity, and when 

 they come up; seize them. The mode in which some species 

 entrap water fowl is also extremely ingenious. They ad- 

 vance a little way into the water and afterwards retire, play- 

 ing a thousand antic tricks on the banks. The fowl approach, 

 and when they come near, the animal ceases, that he may 

 not alarm them, moving only his tail about, and that very 

 gently, till the birds approach so near that he is enabled to 

 seize one or more. But these are trifling displays of ingenuity 

 in comparison to some which are related of these animals. 

 Thus, Pliny says, that such is the sagacity of foxes that they 

 will not venture on any piece of ice until they have ascer- 

 tained its thickness and strength, by applying their ear to it. 

 A late traveller in Norway, we believe Capell Brooke, states 

 that the foxes of the North Cape take sea fowl by letting one 

 of their companions over the edge of a cliff by his tail, and 

 where this does not enable them to reach their prey, that a 

 line is formed of no inconsiderable length, by seizing each 

 others tails in their mouths. That credulous author, Pontop- 

 pidan, also informs us, " that a certain person was surprised 

 on seeing a fox near a fisherman's house, laying a parcel of 

 fishes' heads in a row : he waited the event, the fox hid him- 

 self behind them, and made a booty of the first crow that 

 came for a bit of them." 



This character of cunning and extreme prudence in the 

 fox, renders him extremely difficult, to be destroyed, or taken. 

 As soon as he has acquired a little experience, he is not to he 

 deceived by the snares laid for him, and the moment he re- 

 cognizes them, nothing can induce him to approach them, 

 even when suffering the severest pangs of hunger. 



Some curious instances, says Mr. Jesse, have been related 

 to me of the cunning evinced by foxes, not only in the pre- 

 servation of their lives, but in procuring themselves food. A 

 fox, which had been frequently hunted in Leicestershire, was 

 always lost at a particular place, where the hounds could 



