104 FOXES AT HOME. 



pines, came the well-known bark of a dog fox. 

 It is strange what different sensations are 

 awakened, or aroused, by the same cause under 

 different circumstances. Now at home in the 

 midst of civilisation the bark of a fox makes one 

 immediately think of something wild and lonely, 

 whilst here in the midst of loneliness it had just 

 the opposite effect, and made one think of home 

 and civilisation, pleasant scenes, and happy 

 days. The occasionally repeated cry was 

 listened to with the greatest interest, as it 

 appeared to come nearer and nearer, until right 

 down close to the camp, when there was a 

 longer interval than usual, and it seemed as if 

 the fox had been scared by the unusual pro- 

 pinquity of so many human beings, seldom seen 

 in those parts, not to mention the presence of a 

 large dog — half deerhound half sheepdog — which 

 our shikari, Anastasis, had tied up in his tent, 

 and which took no notice whatever of either 

 vulp or his bark. However, we were quickly 

 undeceived, and before one could realise what 

 had happened there was a rush and a scramble 

 at my very elbow, and out of the door of the 

 tent dashed the fox with my little '' speckelty 

 hen " in his mouth, and one saw with dismay 



