13 STRANGE DWELLINGS. 



soil is not so likely to be hardened by the frost as that of a more 

 compact and watery nature, and would be easily thrown out by 

 tlie small though powerful feet of the animal. 



If one of these little colonies could be laid open, a very 

 curious sight would present itself. The earth would be seen to 

 be pierced with multitudinous tunnels, each complete and inde- 

 pendent in itself, and never interfering with burrows belonging 

 to other owners. Each burrow, too, is of a very complex cha- 

 racter, and by no means consists of a single tunnel, with a rude 

 nest at the extremity. There are three or four distinct passages,, 

 each of which opens into the common chamber, which is of con- 

 siderable dimensions, and serves as a starting-place whence the 

 inhabitant can seek refuge in either of its passages, according 

 to the direction in which it apprehends danger. 



This chamber is not, however, the nursery for the young, a 

 second cavity being used for that purpose. The nursery is not 

 of great dimensions, and communicates by a passage with the 

 chamber already mentioned. The reader will see, therefore, that 

 in some respects the habitation of the Aictic Fox corresponds 

 with that of the mole, both having a kind of fortress from which 

 a number of passages lead in different directions, and the 

 nursery being in both instances separate from the general 

 habitation. 



Five or six young ones are mostly bred in these subterranean 

 nurseries; and in the outer chamber, and in several of the pas- 

 sages that lead to it, are placed good stores of food. In one 

 such nest were found many bodies of two species of lemming, 

 and several stoats ; and the abundance of bones belonging to 

 hares, fishes, and ducks, showed that the wants of the young 

 Foxes had been amply supplied. 



The habitation of the common Fox of this country is by no 

 means so complicated as that of the Arctic species. 



Whenever it can, the Fox avoids the labour of burrowing, 

 and avails itself of the deserted home of a badger, or even a 

 rabbit. In the former case there is very little to be done to the 

 burrow, and in the latter the cunning animal finds its labour 



