THE FOX IN FABLE 169 



observation of nature in the description of the simple, 

 kindly, harmless badger played upon by the superior 

 intelligence of the fox. The idea of relationship 

 between them is based on the fact that they haunt 

 the same coverts, and sometimes inhabit different 

 branches of the same earth. It is noteworthy in this 

 respect that when, knowingly or not, the fox in 

 conversation with the badger disclaims any very close 

 relationship with the wolf, this is also true to modern 

 opinion of the natural history of the two animals. 



Everywhere the fox is believed to impose on the 

 simplicity of the badger, and often to occupy the 

 earth the badger has been at the labour of digging. 

 This tendency of the fox to make use of the labours 

 of other animals, and to reap where he has not sown, 

 reappears constantly in fact and fable. The fox 

 watches the hen-roost, follows the shooters in the 

 covert to make an easy prey of the wounded game, 

 and digs up the wolves' caches. 



The fox is regarded more favourably from a moral 

 point of view in the innumerable Slavonic fables, or 

 versions of fables, to illustrate his tendency to make 

 use of other people. The fox and the hare were 

 neighbours one winter, when the fox built a house of 

 snow, the hare made one of wood. In spring-time, 

 when the sun grew hot, the fox's house melted, and 



