FOX-HUNTING. 



THE DOG, AND ITS A^AEIETIES; 



[fox-hunting. 



Northern Asia, and is everywhere celebrated 

 for its cunning and rapacity. As liis linear 

 pupil intimates, the fox is crepuscular, or noc- 

 turnal in his habits, but is occasionally seen 

 abroad during the day. In general, however, 

 it is as the dusk of the evening advances that 

 he steals from his burrow, with noiseless steps, 

 to prowl about for prey. His senses of smell 

 and hearing are extremely acute, and he listens, 

 and snuffs the breeze, attentive to every sound, 

 appreciatiog every odour. His eyes gleam as 

 he creeps along in a crouching attitude, intent 

 upon theft. His movements are all stealthy. 

 He surprises the rabbit gambolling near its 

 burrow ; the hare in her form ; the poultry on 

 the perch. He slaughters all he can, reserving 

 the overplus for a future exigency, and for that 

 purpose buries it in the earth. In times of 

 scarcity, field-mice, frogs, weasels, and even 

 insects, are devoured. On the continent the 

 fox visits the vineyards, being as partial to the 

 ripe grapes as the jackal is. 



He is solitary in his habits, and dwells 

 alone in a burrow, which he has either made 

 or usurped, and which is generally in some 

 secluded situation, not readily to be discovered, 

 and in the neighbourhood of a rabbit-warren, 

 preserves of game, or farms. The female 

 breeds in April, and on her, alone, devolves the 

 entire care of the cubs. She produces three 

 or four at a birth, in a deep burrow, where she 

 has prepai"ed a bed of dried leaves, grass, and 

 moss. The young are very playful, and remain 

 about four months with their parent, who is 

 watchful and resolute to the extreme in their 

 defence. Even when taken at an early age, 

 the fox is not easily tamed, never loses his 

 innate suspiciousness, and never becomes truly 

 domestic. Adults are ferocious when placed 

 in confinement, and soon die. Though slightly 

 made, the fox is very vigorous, and bites with 

 great severity. His powers of endurance and 

 speed have, in this country, recommended him 

 to all lovers of the chase, for whose gratification 

 the breed is preserved, where possible. He 

 has been known to run before the hounds fifty 

 miles at a stretch. AVheu hard pressed, he 

 neither loses his courage nor self-possession, 

 and puts in practice every expedient which 

 cunning -dictates to bafile the hounds, or con- 

 ceal him from their search ; and, if all fail he 

 dies, defending himself to the last, without 

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uttering a cry. His voice is a sort of yelp, 

 which, however, is only occasionally exerted, 

 and never when in quest of prey. It is said by 

 Bewick, and we have often heard it affirmed, 

 that the fox breeds with the dog. "We have 

 also seen sharp-nosed dogs, called fox-dogs, 

 and were at the same time assured that they 

 were a cross between the two animals ; but it 

 has always so happened that the assertion 

 could not be substantiated. 



He who has no larger acquaintance with 

 the oft-decried fox than from having seen him 

 steal away from the covert side, amidst the 

 "whoop" of the huntsman, and the bustle of 

 the "break," or, panting for breath, and be- 

 smeared with mud, has beheld him running for 

 life, can have little idea of the beauty of his 

 person in his natural haunts. There, sleek as 

 a kitten, and almost as playful, he really looks 

 a very handsome animal ; and, on a still sum- 

 mer's night, when the moon shines brightlr, 

 it is delightful to witness his graceful form 

 and nimble motions. He will enter a field, 

 perhaps — but very cautiously — occasionally 

 stopping to see if anything is at hand ; and, if 

 not fully satisfied that all is safe, he rears him- 

 self upon his hind legs (like a dog in the act 

 of begging), and, erecting his ears, waits for a 

 few seconds, mute as a mouse, eager to catch 

 the echo of the slightest sound. Assured that 

 all is safe, his operations commence. Back- 

 wards and forwards over the field he paces ; 

 beats over the surface as carefully as a pointer 

 his shooting-ground, and occasionally captures 

 a mouse, or a beetle, to reward him for his 

 patient search. Wherever low willows, oziers, 

 gorse, and thick-bottomed furze abound, the 

 fox is almost sure to be met with. It is gene- 

 rally supposed, and we think upon good 

 grounds, that there are in this country three 

 kinds, which, for the sake of distinction, may be 

 called the Greyhound Vox, the Common Eox, 

 and the Little Eed Eox. Most persons who 

 have hunted with fox-hounds cannot have failed 

 to notice the great difference which exists be- 

 tween diftereut individuals, as regards their 

 form, colour, speed, and manners ; and there 

 are very few who would not, at a first glance, 

 pronounce them distinct species. Naturalists, 

 however, who have examined them scientifi- 

 cally, regard them as mere varieties ; but those 

 varieties are so well marked that they appear 



