48 ANIMALS OF THE 



ling of the domestic fowls. He scents them at a 

 distance ; he seizes his opportunity, conceals his 

 approaches, creeps slyly along, makes the attack, 

 and seldom returns without his booty. If he be 

 able to get into the yard, he begins by levelling 

 all the poultry without remorse, and carrying off 

 a part of the spoil, hides it at some convenient 

 distance, and again returns to the charge. Tak- 

 ing off another fowl in the same manner, he hides 

 that also, but not in the same place ; and this he 

 practises for several times together, until the ap- 

 proach of day, or the noise of the domestics, give 

 him warning to retire. The same arts are prac- 

 tised when he finds birds entangled in springes 

 laid for them by the fowler : the fox takes care to 

 be beforehand, very expertly takes the bird out 

 of the snare, hides it for three or four days, and 

 knows very exactly when and where to return to 

 avail himself of the hidden treasure. He is 

 equally alert in seizing the young hares and rab- 

 bits, before they have strength enough to escape 

 him ; and when the old ones are wounded and 

 fatigued, he is sure to come upon them in their 

 moments of distress, and to show them no mercy. 

 In the same manner he finds out birds' nests, 

 seizes the partridge and the quail while sitting, 

 and destroys a large quantity of game. The wolf 

 is most hurtful to the peasant, but the fox to the 

 gentleman. In short, nothing that can be eaten 

 seems to come amiss ; rats, mice, serpents, toads, 

 and lizards. He will, when urged by hunger, 

 eat vegetables and insects ; and those that live 

 near the sea-coasts will, for want of other food, 



