CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 5. CARNIVORA. 039 



" Though the cunning of the fox is proverbial, this is not the only remarkable quality by which 

 he is characterized ; he is also bold and resolute, particularly when a supply of food has to be 

 provided for a litter of cubs. He possesses, besides, those enduring qualities that will carry him 

 through a chase of some forty or fifty miles, right ahead, across every description of country — low 

 grounds and commons, fallows and pastures, woods and plantations ; and although, during the 

 progress of the run, he is remarkably crafty, and will avail himself of every means to elude the 

 vigilance of his determined pursuers, yet, even when defeated, he dies game to the very last. 



" Imagine yourself placed, as the hounds are drawing the cover, in a stubble-field, immediately 

 adjoining the wood where the earths are situated. Reynard, pursued by a stanch and true pack 

 of well-bred and well-managed hounds, has threaded its most intricate mazes — doubled and 

 redoubled, crossed and recrossed — for the purpose of puzzling his numerous enemies. But check 

 after check follows, and he is at length forced to break cover, which he does very reluctantly- 

 On reaching the stubble-field, just mentioned, he will pause for a moment to listen, taking breath 

 at the same time. His brush is draggled in the dew, and his coat is also wet and discolored. He 

 turns his sharp nose toward the cover, with his ears pricked up to catch the sound of the 

 approach of danger. One fore-foot is elevated ; and there he stands, a perfect picture for the 

 skillful and truth-delineating artist. He soon finds that his host of enemies are on the scent ; he 

 hears the voice of the huntsmen, the cry of the pack, the cracking of the knotted cord, and that 

 indescribable roar wdiich is peculiar to the chase, with the shrill w r ords of the manager of the 

 pack, ' Yoicks, my hounds ! At him, Rover ! Yoicks, my pets ! Yoicks ! Yoicks !' waving his 

 cap, and encouraging them onward. At the same time, the whips in the distance vociferate, 

 ' Broke cover ! Gone away ! Gone away !' Hearing all this, and perfectly understanding its 

 motive, Reynard plucks up additional spirit and resolution, and flies at an accelerated speed, to 

 reach a distant earth, or some well-known place of refuge and safety, perhaps to leave his home 

 forever, and with the certainty of a desperate chase. 



" Nor is the fox the least dexterous in securing his prey. Like the badger, he leaves the 

 earths generally about ten or eleven o'clock at night, unless the state of the weather be extremely 

 unfavorable, and then he prudently stops at home. His sharp bark about midnight indicates his 

 whereabout. He visits farmyards and homesteads, henroosts, and other out-buildings, containing 

 ducks, geese, and turkeys, making, when he can accomplish an entrance, sad havoc among every 

 description of these inhabitants of the farm premises. An instance of the cunning of the fox in 

 his forays occurred a short time ago, and should be related here. A neighbor of ours possessed 

 a large number of fine turkeys, wdiich usually roosted in the branches of some tall Scotch firs, 

 immediately adjoining the farmyard ; Reynard had an eye on them, and made several visits 

 during the moonlight nights unsuccessfully. They were perched too high for him to reach them, 

 and therefore he Avas obliged to resort to stratagem, for stratagem is the fox's stalking-horse. . 



" Now, how Avas this to be practiced ? Well, he first scratched the ground beneath the tree 

 with his fore-feet, and then the base of the tree itself, in order to draw their attention ; at the 

 same time looking up to mark every movement. He then ran round the tree in rapid rings. 

 The turkeys, aw r are of their danger, followed his quick movements with their eyes, and became 

 confused and dizzy. One fine bird fell plump upon the ground, and was instantly killed, accord- 

 ing to the authority of the shepherd, who was watching the proceedings. The like scheme was 

 repeated, and down came another, wdiich shared the same fate. Both were borne off to the 

 earths. The loss of turkey after turkey induced the farmer to watch in ambush, and the truth 

 of this stratagem was fully established. But the cunning animal paid the forfeit of his own life, 

 for he was shot dead while decamping with his last booty. 



"The fox will travel a long distance in search of food ; but, like a true general, never when he 

 can levy his contributions near home. Thus, also, if the estate in which he is located abounds 

 with game, his visits to the homestead will be of less frequent occurrence-, nor will he attack 

 hares, if there be an abundant supply of rabbits. When, however, this is not the case, he will, 

 sven in the day-time, seize the hen pheasant, or partridge, upon their nests, as well as the hare 

 upon her 'form,' notwithstanding the alarm created by the crows, which are constantly upon the 

 watch, and have a. particular eye to his movements. The fox is thus the means of causing very 



