THE FOX 157 



mainly of a reddish-brown colour, with the under parts and 

 the tip of the tail white ; the outer surfaces of the ears and 

 some portions of the limbs are often quite black. It is 

 about two feet in length, with a bushy tail a foot or more 

 long, which chiefly distinguishes the animal from the dog. 

 Another point of difference is that the pupil of the eye is 

 less round and contracts into a mere slit, for which reason 

 chiefly the Fox is sometimes classed in a genus separate 

 from the dogs. 



The Fox is generally a solitary animal, living in an ' earth ' 

 of its own excavation, although it sometimes appropriates 

 the burrow of the badger. It is practically omnivorous in 

 diet ; its general prey consists of hares, rabbits, and ground 

 birds, rats, mice, and even frogs, beetles, and worms. It 

 has a mania for poultry, as the British farmer often learns 

 to his cost. 



The cunning of the Fox is proverbial, and space alone 

 prevents a description of some of the artifices to which it 

 will resort to outwit the hounds. After a chase of no less 

 than twenty-seven miles a hunted animal has finally escaped 

 from its foes; and although not supposed to be a tree- 

 climber, in the forest of Savernake a Fox was found hiding 

 in the foliage at a height of thirty-seven feet above the 

 ground. One more instance of the creature's cunning 

 and courage must suffice. 



A well-known taxidermist had the body of a Fox sent to 

 him to be stuffed. The animal had only three feet, but on 

 opening it the missing foot was found in its stomach. There 

 could be no doubt that the Fox had been caught by the 

 foot in a trap, and, in order to escape, had bitten off and 

 swallowed the imprisoned limb. Rabbits, when similarly 

 caught, tear themselves away, leaving their feet in the trap, 

 together with the sinews ; while the cat, when taken in a 

 snare, seldom has the courage to tear itself away, and never 

 would dream of biting off the limb. 



In affection for its offspring the Fox is scarcely surpassed 

 by any other animal. The vixen seldom has more than 

 five cubs, and she will defend them with great courage. 

 More often, however, she exercises her wits to protect her 

 progeny. When she has suspected that her den has been 



