THE FOX IN FABLE 167 



Let us begin then with the relationship of the 

 fox to the other animals — the lion, the wolf, the 

 badger and the hare. Who that has sat up at night 

 in the jungle will not recognise the submissive 

 cunning of the fox to the lion or tiger? At the 

 approach of the lordly beasts, the jackal or fox slinks 

 humbly away. Yet if by chance the royal beasts have 

 a kill, how quickly and silently the smaller beasts 

 return ! There are materials for a whole series of 

 fables in the very attitude of the fox or jackal in 

 the presence of the lion or tiger. The jackal certainly 

 knows when the tiger is hunting, and while he avoids 

 the king of the jungle, is on the alert to gain his 

 share of the spoil. There is a touch of nature too 

 in the fable when he comes into contact with the 

 lion over the division of the calf (' Reineke Fuchs,' 

 Bk. 3, cap. 13). The fox is driven to hunt by the 

 necessities of his vixen and her cubs, which we know 

 is the case since a fox takes a share in the support of 

 the cubs, and one keeper has assured me will feed the 

 litter altogether if the mother is killed. The fox is 

 then driven to danger by the necessity of the case 

 It is only the story of the division of the calf which is 

 fable, the fox's share in the transaction being quite 

 true to nature. The lion, the fox, and the wolf go 

 out hunting together. A calf is killed, and the 



