292 



THE STORY OF THE FOX. 



only twenty inches from the tip of the snout to the root of the tail. Its 

 fur is gray, tinged with red. It is by no means timid, and I have shot 

 one that walked up boldly to my camp. Its burrow is in the open plain, 

 and it lives on lizards, rats, crabs, wdiite ants and various insects. 



The Indian fox has no scent, and therefore is seldom hunted with 

 hounds. 



Another small and pretty member of the fox family is the fennec, of 

 Northern Africa. It has enormous ears for such a small animal. The color 



FENNECS, OR AFRICAN FOXES. 



of the fur varies from fawn to buf¥, the under parts being white, and the 

 tail black. 



Like the common fox, the fennec makes a burrow, which is generally 

 in the tufts of low plants in the desert. The inside of the burrow is lined 

 with feathers, hair, and soft vegetable substances, and is remarkable for its 

 cleanliness. The burrows are made with wonderful rapidity — so quickly, 

 indeed, that the animal seems to sink intO' the ground. 



