72 WINTER SUNSHINE 



considered the chances of another sleigh coming 

 along, before the hound, and obliterating the trail 

 entirely. 



Audubon relates of a certain fox, which, when 

 started by the hounds, always managed to elude 

 them at a certain point. Finally the hunter con- 

 cealed himself in the locality, to discover, if possi- 

 ble, the trick. Presently along came the fox, and, 

 making a leap to one side, ran up the trunk of a 

 fallen tree which had lodged some feet from the 

 ground, and concealed himself in the top. In a 

 few minutes the hounds came vip, and in their eager- 

 ness passed some distance beyond the point, and 

 then went still farther, looking for the lost trail. 

 Then the fox hastened down, and, taking his back- 

 track, fooled the dogs completely. 



I was told of a silver-gray fox in northern New 

 York, which, when pursued by the hounds, would 

 run till it had hunted up another fox, or the fresh 

 trail of one, when it would so manoeuvre that the 

 hound would invariably be switched off on the sec- 

 ond track. 



In cold, dry weather the fox will sometimes 

 elude the hound, at least delay him much, by tak- 

 ing to a bare, plowed field. The hard dry earth 

 seems not to retain a particle of the scent, and the 

 hound gives a loud, long, peculiar bark, to signify 

 he has trouble. It is now his turn to show his wit, 

 which he often does by passing completely around 

 the field, and resuming the trail again where H 

 crosses the fence or a strip of snow. 



