THE FOX. 453 



The Fox. — The fox makes a conspicuous figure 

 in the natural history of animals ; still, in some 

 respects, his character has been over-rated and 

 exaggerated. He is a native of all temperate 

 regions ; and although we read of the cur, the 

 greyhound, and the mastiif-fox, we consider a fox 

 as a fox, the difference in size, colour, &c., being 

 dependent on either climate or food. It is true, 

 they are larger in some particular parts of England 

 than in others ; and it is generally believed, that 

 such as are what sportsmen call '' stub-bred foxes,"" 

 that is, bred above, and not below ground, are the 

 largest. It is in this sole instance that the habits 

 of the fox differ from those of the wolf, to whose 

 genus he belongs ; the she-wolf never bringing 

 forth her young, as the fox does, under ground. 

 But although the general conformation of the fox 

 is the same as that of tlie wolf, his external form 

 has a greater resemblance to the dog, with whose 

 character also he closely assimilates, when domesti- 

 cated, in expressions of affection, of anger, or of 

 fear. When minutely examined, and particularly 

 in relation to his predatory life, and, consequently, 

 the dangers to which he is exposed, he will be found 

 to be abundantly endowed by nature with the in- 

 stinctive faculties requisite for such a life, in addi- 

 tion to the most elegant form an animal of his size 

 is capable of. Foxes copulate in the winter months, 

 and of course bring forth in the spring, on an ave- 

 rage, perhaps half a dozen cubs at a litter, born 

 blind like the dog ; but the period of each depends 

 on the mildness or severity of the winter. Except- 



