Ground Vermin The Fox in Pursuit. 



359 



together for some days, and commit a considerable amount 

 of mischief. 



The fox when in pursuit of its prey is, as far as external 

 appearance is concerned, a very different animal from the 

 fox when it is itself pursued ; and while in the latter case 

 it puts forward air its energies, exerts every muscle of its 

 extremely muscular body, and with ears laid back and its 

 brush straight out behind in a line with its body, flies for 

 life from the hounds behind it, when in calm pursuit of a 

 meal it has a more slouching gait, and with ears up and 

 brush on the move, threads through the interstices of the 

 covert with speed, while ever on the alert for any sign or 

 sound to guide it to the object of its search. 



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