THE FOX 253 



out to the Carlos^ in Spain, but have found out 

 that he takes more killing than they bargained for, 

 being a much stouter fellow than was exjDected, 

 and the only chance was a sharp brush at first. 



The two sketches of a fox are intended to re^^re- 

 sent one that is quite fresh, and one that is rather 

 beaten. Few men have opportunities to observe 

 the difference, and consequently mistake a fresh 

 fox for a hunted one, and often declare most 

 positively that the fox they have seen is the hunted 

 one ; and the huntsman is induced to go away with 

 him, but finds, to his regret, that it is a fresh one, 

 when all the horses are dead beaten, as well as the 

 fox which is left behind. If this hint should be 

 the means of making men more cautious how they 

 give so decided an opinion, it will be a point gained. 

 It is worthy of notice, when a fox is beaten he 

 goes very high, with his back up, etc. 



It may be that some of these observations on 

 this animal are not generally known, but they have 

 been ascertained by experience to be correct. In 

 the first place, that a fox breeds but one Utter of 

 cubs in a year, and that all the vixens in the country 

 lay up their young about the same time, that is, 

 within six weeks, or thereabouts, making the 25th 



^ Charley, a slang term for a fox ; origin^ Charles Fox. 



