THE FOX. 59 



such a bait, and in circling round he is sure to 

 spring one or more of the hidden traps. 



VALUE OF THE TAIL. 



The bushy tail of the fox has many uses, fore- 

 most among which is its value as a wrap or a travel- 

 ling-blanket. In referring to the foxes of Manitoba, 

 where the cold is intense, Seton says that he does 

 not believe a fox which has lost its tail would 

 survive the winter ; but this certainly does not 

 apply in the British Isles. As already mentioned, 

 vixen cubs reared in captivity are often docked 

 before being liberated, and a tailless vixen gener- 

 ally lives to produce many litters. There is no 

 doubt, however, that the tail is a considerable 

 comfort to its possessor, for the fox, when resting, 

 curls into a ball, its exposed nose and paws packed 

 closely together ; then it wraps its tail over them, 

 and breathes through the long, close hair. 



Thus curled, a fox is very difficult to distinguish 

 against a background of leaves or bracken, and 

 will lie perfectly motionless so long as it thinks 

 itself unobserved by the passer-by watching 

 through the hair of its tail, which thus serves an 

 additional useful purpose by hiding the bright eyes 

 that might otherwise give the show away. 



Foxes use their tails considerably when fighting, 

 the combatants striking each other in the face, 

 and thereby causing a momentary diversion which 

 serves to cover a snap or a parry. I have heard it 

 stated in all seriousness that a fox, before going 

 out in search of a rival whom he intends to engage 

 in combat, will deliberately sprawl in water, then 

 roll in sand till his tail, and indeed the whole of his 

 fur, is filled with grit, which so bunds his opponent 

 that victory is easily gained 1 



