THE FOX, II 



the water ; and the burrow rises gradually upwards, so that at 

 the extremity the animal is lodged on dry ground. It is in- 

 stinctively careful to avoid too close a proximity to the surface 

 of the earth, lest the roof of its home might fall, and disclose 

 the interior to the unwelcome light. 



The Fox is a well-known burrower, its ' earth ' being famihai 

 to many by sight, and to all by name. 



Few persons, who do not know the history of the Fox, would 

 beheve it to be capable of forming excavations of such extent. 

 The fore feet of the mole are clearly formed for digging, their 

 sharp claws penetrating the earth, their broad palms acting as 

 shovels, and their powerful muscles giving the needful force. 

 These limbs are essentially used for digging, and are but little 

 employed as means of locomotion. But the Fox is an admirable 

 runner, as any hunter can avouch, and its fore limbs are formed 

 for speed and endurance, their length enduing them with the 

 one quaUty, and their muscular lightness with the other. Yet, 

 just as the digging limbs of the mole are used for locomotion, 

 and enable the animal to proceed at no contemptible speed ; so 

 the running limbs of the Fox are used for digging, and enable 

 the creature to excavate burrows of no contemptible dimensions. 



The Arctic Fox {Vulpes lagopus)^ an animal which dwells in 

 the polar regions, is notable for the extent and structure of the 

 burrow. In order to shield itself from the inclemency of the 

 climate, it digs to a considerable depth ; and it is rather remark- 

 able that a solitary burrow is seldom found, twenty or thirty 

 Foxes generally sinking their tunnels in close proximity to each 

 other. 



Perhaps this semi-sociality may be accounted for in a very 

 simple manner, namely, the suitability of some particular piece 

 of ground, to which the Foxes flock by instinct, and in which 

 they drive as many burrows as the ground will accommodate. 

 This conjecture is the more likely to be true, because sandy 

 spots are always chosen for this purpose, where twenty or thirty 

 burrows are often sunk in close proximity to each other. Such 

 spots would be peculiarly suitable to the Fox, because the sandy 



