or NATURAL HISTORY. 409 



the wolf, he triifts not entirely to the fwiftnefs of his courfco 

 He knows how to enfure fafety, by providing himfelf with 

 an afylum, to which he retires when danger appears. He i? 

 not a vagabond, but lives in a fettled habitation and in a do- 

 meftic ftate. The choice of fituation, the art of making and 

 rendering a houfe commodious, and of concealing the aven- 

 ues which lead to it, imply a fuperior degree of fentiment 

 and refledlion. The fox poflefles thefe qualities, and em- 

 ploys them with dexterity and advantage. He takes up his 

 abode on the border of a wood, and in the neighbourhood 

 of cottages. Here he liftens to the crowing of the cocks and 

 the noife of the poultry. He fcents them at a diftance. He 

 choofes his time with great judgment and difcretion. He 

 conceals both his route and his deiign. He moves forv/ard 

 with caution, fometimes even trailing his body, and feldom 

 makes a fruitlefs expedition. When he leaps the wall, or 

 gets in underneath it, he ravages the court-yard, puts all the 

 fowls to de^th, and then retires quietly with his prey, which 

 he either conceals under the herbage, or carries off to his 

 kennel. In a fhort time he returns for another, which he 

 carries off and hides in the fame manner, but in a different 

 place. In this manner he proceeds, till the light of the fun, 

 or fome movements perceived in the houfe, admonifh him 

 that it is time to retire to his den. He does much mifchief 

 to the bird-catchers. Early in the morning he vilits their 

 nets and their bird-lime, and carries off fucceffively all the 

 birds that happen to be entangled. The young hares he 

 hunts in the plains, feizes old ones in their feats, digs out 

 the rabbits in the warrens, finds out the nefts of partridges, 

 quails, &c. feizes the mother on the eggs, and deftroys a 

 prodigious number of game. Dogs of all kinds fpontane- 

 oufly hunt the fox. Though his odour be ftrong, they often 

 prefer him to the ftag or the hare. When purfued he runs 

 to his hole ; and it is not uncommon to fend in terriers te 



