THE STORY OF THE FOX. 



Fox-hunting is a common but exciting sport in both England and 

 America. Both the red and the gray fox leave a trail that is easily fol- 

 lowed by the hounds. The well-known scent of the fox is secreted as it 

 runs and is easily detected by the human as well as the canine nose. There 

 is no doubt that the natural cunning of the fox has been greatly increased 

 by long experience in matching its w4ts against dogs and hunters, for in 

 countries where the fox is not hunted it is far less cunning than either the 

 gray or red fox of x\merica and England. 



The reds are bolder in pursuit, and hunt over a much greater territory 



than the grays. Whether the grays ever climb trees in pursuit of prey I 



am uncertain, but they take to a tree as readily as a cat when run hard by 



hounds. I think it nearly certain that they climb for persimmons and 



grapes. Red foxes never climb trees under any circumstances; when hard 



run they go to earth. Gray foxes run before hounds only a short distance, 



doubling constantly and for a short time, when they either hole in a tree, 



or climb one. I have known the red fox to run straight away nearly 



twenty miles. Very commonly they run eight or ten miles away, and 



then run back in a parallel course. I have know'n them to run the four 



sides of a square. It is doubtful wdiether a first-rate specimen of the red 



fox, taken at his best in point of condition, can either be killed or run to 



earth by any pack of hounds living, such are his matchless speed and en- 



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