Tricks and Habits of the Fox. 1 1 5 



distance his pursuers by speed. If he finds he is 

 not doing this and the hounds are holding their 

 own, then he resorts to his many tricks and cun- 

 ning. 



His favorite practice is to make for a herd of 

 cattle, band of horses, or flock of sheep, and will 

 boldly seek a farm or stable yard in search of 

 them. 



Another favorite ''dodge'' is roadiiig. I have 

 known them to run a road for miles, leaving it at 

 approach of travelers and immediately returning 

 after passing them. They instinctively appre- 

 ciate the difficulty of hounds trailing them in the 

 dust. They will also run a railroad, and their 

 fondness for and ability to run any kind of fence 

 is too well known to need mention. 



It is a well-known fact that a fox when hard 

 pressed and beginning to fail will make for a 

 cover where another fox is known ''to use." By 

 many it is believed that this unceremonious visit 

 is not to exchange the compliments of the day, 

 but to introduce and present the hounds to his 

 acquaintance. Upon this point I "hae me doots." 

 Admitting it to be so, it is always a successful 

 ruse, for old experienced hounds are chary about 

 making new acquaintances, at least until they 

 have shaken hands with the original. Young- 

 hounds are not so particular as "all scents smell 

 alike to them." 



The only evidence of stupidity I have ever 



