120 THE FOX 



and the fox crept back to the nearest covert. ' On 

 another occasion, a fox was seen running with some 

 of the tail hounds of the H.H. Then he was lost 

 sight of and the hounds ran on. Probably this fox 

 had suddenly squatted when he found a suitable 

 spot. 



' Again in the " fifties " the Old Berkshire hounds 

 were running one spring day a twisting fox that had 

 been found in Bagley. The fox had doubled back 

 from between Lower Radley and Abingdon, and 

 reached the pond below Radley School House in 

 Radley Park. Some of the lower-school boys were 

 strolling there. The fox crouched up to them and 

 laid down. One of the boys threw a jacket over 

 it and picked it up. The fox submitted to the 

 handling as amicably as a lady's lapdog. The boy 

 carried the fox up to the school enclosure, and when 

 the hounds had passed, released it. If I recollect 

 right, the boy was Meredith Brown, of Trinity 

 College, Oxford, stroke of the Oxford crew in 1865- 

 1866, and President of the O.U.B.C 



In all these cases, which are well authenticated, 

 the fox displayed something more than cunning. He 

 recognised at least the difference between possible 

 friends and certain foes. Animals doubtless appre- 

 ciate courage and gentleness combined, and in the 



