THE FOX 103 



at night there is nothing to be feared from foxes, 

 but when they are allowed to roost where they 

 choose, or when the hens " steal their nests," as 

 the farmers' wives express it, the matter is very 

 different. The country people have some curious 

 ideas as to the manner in which the fox manages 

 to secure birds that are roosting on branches high 

 out of reach. " He charms 'em down," they 

 say; ''he just stares an* stares at 'em until they 

 flies down into his mouth ! " 



Another story is that the fox " Takes his tail 

 in his mouth an' runs round an' round in a circle 

 under the trees, when them fowls stares an' cackles, 

 an' stares an' cackles, an' at last flies down to 

 see what he be about ! ' 



At the bottom of these wild and impossible 

 stories there lies, I believe, two small grains of 

 truth, namely that fowls are intensely inquisitive, 

 also very nervous and easily frightened. I shall 

 never forget the excitement that was caused when I 

 took a tame fox through the farmyard ; the ducks 

 quacked and waddled after him, while the cocks 

 and hens cackled, all following as near as they 

 dare come; in fact, there was a great commotion. 

 After seeing this I could well believe that hens 

 at roost in a tree might, if disturbed by a fox prowl- 

 ing beneath, work themselves up into such a state 

 of " nerves " that they would eventually fly off 

 their perches. Once on the ground their fate 

 would be sealed ! 



That a fox will often kill when he does not 

 need food cannot be disputed. He will slay for 



