TRACKS IN THE SAND 59 



Another very interesting fact developed. I 

 noticed that there were the tracks of two foxes, 

 one a little larger than the other, associated with 

 the groove. As the tracks came out of the 

 heronry on to the clear sand, it was the larger 

 fox that was carrying the bird, while the smaller 

 tracks ran first on one side then on the other. 

 After about a hundred yards of this, the smaller 

 fox took up the burden and carried it the rest of 

 the way, although the larger fox ran along beside, 

 generally very near but occasionally running a 

 little wide. If we assume that the larger fox 

 was the male or dog fox and the smaller one the 

 female or vixen, then the male must have made 

 the killing and, in true savage fashion, 

 have given the booty to his squaw to carry 

 home. 



It was very easy to follow the tracks with the 

 groove, for although they went nearly directly 

 towards their goal, they avoided all bushy and 

 grassy places, and the groove was plainly visible 

 on the sand. It would have been difficult to 

 carry the body of a heron through bushes or even 

 through grass. At one place the body had been 



