264 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 



Let anybody read the subjoined anecdote, by the Editors 

 of the " Quadrupeds," and say afterwards, if he can, that 

 the Gray Fox is not an extraordinary animal ! 



On a cold, drizzly, sleety, rainy day, while travelling in 

 Carolina, we observed a Gray Fox in a field of broom-grass, 

 coursing against the wind and hunting, in the manner of the 

 pointer dog. .;. We stopped to witness his manoeuvres ; sud- 

 . denly he stood still, and squatted low on his haunches ; a 

 moment after he proceeded on once more, but with slow and 

 cautious steps ; at times his nose was raised higher in the air, 

 moving about from side to side. At length he seemed to be sure 

 of his game, and went straight forward, although very slowly, 

 at times crawling on the earth; he was occasionally hidden 

 by the grass, so that we could not see him very distinctly ; 

 however, at length we observed him make a dead halt. There 

 was no twisting or horizontal movement of the tail, like that 

 made by the common house-cat when ready to make a spring, 

 but his tail seemed resting on the side, whilst his ears were 

 drawn back and his head raised only a few inches from the 

 earth. 



He remained in this attitude nearly half a minute, and 

 then made a sudden pounce upon his prey ; at the same in- 

 stant the whirring of the distracted covey was heard, as the 

 affrighted birds took wing ; two or three sharp screams suc- 

 ceeded, and the successful prowler immediately passed out 

 of the field with an unfortunate partridge in his mouth, evi- 

 dently with the intention of seeking a more retired spot to 

 make a dainty meal. 



We had a gun with us, and he passed within long gun shot 

 of us. But we did not wound or destroy him? He has 

 enabled us, for the first time, to bear witness that he is not 

 only a dog, but a good pointer in the bargain ; he has obeyed 

 an impulse of nature, and obtained a meal in the manner in 

 which it was intended by the wise Creator that he should be 

 supplied. He seizes only a single bird, whilst man, who 



