Gray Fox 



because of any inborn hatred of civilization, like that which 

 drives the beaver and marten forever off into the wilderness. 

 He would apparently be perfectly willing to dwell, like the red 

 fox, as a free-booter on the borders of a plantation, living on 

 mice and game birds, or stealing the farmer's chickens as occa- 

 sion offered; but the farmer usually proves too much for him. 



The gray fox is sly and cunning by nature, but he lacks 

 that astonishing shrewdness and faculty for working out deep- 

 laid schemes which enables the red fox* to turn the tables on 

 the hunter repeatedly in the most unpromising situations. 



Physically the gray fox has the advantage in a number of 

 ways; being smaller and less conspicuously coloured, he has a 

 much better chance of tricking. 



He can also climb trees better than the red fox, and is 

 equally swift at running and more tireless, while his rough 

 gray-brown fur is much less eagerly sought after than is the 

 beautiful pelt of the red fox. 



Gray foxes seldom live in burrows; most of them have 

 their camps in hollow logs and old tree-trunks, where they can 

 take refuge in rough weather or when chased by dogs. At 

 other times they like to sleep in the open air, hidden among 

 the bushes and undergrowth. They are clever hunters, and living 

 as they do farther to the south, and avoiding those regions 

 where the snow lies deep in winter, seldom lack for food at 

 any season. 



They catch and eat almost every small creature that lives 

 in the forest insects, fish, reptiles, birds, and small mammals; 

 they also at times eat wild grapes and berries, and very likely 

 acorns, chestnuts and mushrooms, like most of the carnivorous 

 animals. 



The female hides her young in a nest of leaves at the 

 bottom of a hollow tree, and later brings them out to give 

 them lessons in hunting and woodcraft. When they have learned 

 to take care of themselves a little they separate, to wander 

 where they will, unprotected, picking up a living here and there 

 as best they may. The barking of the gray fox is thin and 

 husky, fainter than that of the red fox, and serves chiefly to 

 call the sexes together in the spring. 



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