MAMMALS I HAVE STALKED 107 



written, as also of its courage in facing what appear to be in- 

 superable obstacles and dangers. Two or three instances must 

 suffice. A friend of mine in the North disturbed a Fox quite 

 unawares along the Yorkshire Coast. He came upon it all un- 

 expectedly round a bend in the coast. One would have thought 

 that, being so fleet of foot, the Fox would rely upon its loco- 

 motive powers for the best means of escape, but, on the occasion 

 referred to, it rolled over as if in a fit, and remained perfectly 



FIG. 46. FOX. 



still ! My friend was dumbfounded, concluding, even after 

 examination, that the animal had suddenly expired from apo- 

 plectic seizure. He passed on his way, but chanced to look back, 

 when, to his consternation, he observed that the Fox had bolted. 

 It had, of course, feigned death as a method of escaping from man, 

 its only known enemy, but the incident opens up a most inter- 

 esting question of psychology, which I hand on to those who are 

 competent to advance a thesis concerning the reasoning power 

 of this sleek creature of rural England. 



The next incident I have to relate has reference to a Fox 

 caught in a toothed trap. It was held captive by one foot. 

 To be thus discovered, meant instant death on the approach of 

 the gamekeeper, and, to save its own life, even at the risk of losing 

 a limb, the animal actually severed its captive foot, and hobbled 

 off on three legs. Whether it survived the self-amputation I 

 am unable to relate, and I have simply stated the bare facts as 

 they are known to me on unimpeachable authority. 



One night, when watching Pheasants in a secluded wood, the 

 keeper and I heard a dog Fox barking. The Pheasants, about 



