THE GROUP OF THE FOXES. 



H7 



tell us that they have found rabbits and foxes 

 living together in the same burrows in perfect 

 harmony. 



Does Reynard answer to the reputation 

 which the writers of fables have created for 



him? Yes and no. While exaggerating his 

 intelligence, cunning, treachery, and hypo- 

 crisy, these fable-writers have at the same 

 time underrated the qualities of those animals 

 with which they bring him in contact. He 



Fig. 64. — The Fox {Canis vulpes). 



certainly possesses in a high degree all the 

 qualities demanded by the business of a sly 

 thief, and even exhibits a certain good-humour 

 or disposition to tease, while at the same 

 time we know of many surprising instances 

 of a strange simplicity on his part. When 

 hunted it often manages to escape with re- 

 markable adroitness from hounds and hunts- 

 men in full cry. He resorts to all devices 

 to attain his end. He exhibits cunning and 

 audacity, rapidity of movement, patience, and 



an accurate knowledge of localities. His 

 behaviour is certainly very different accor- 

 ding as he feels himself in perfect security 

 or dreads danger. By day he ventures out 

 in quest of his prey if he has to dread 

 neither dogs nor men, but he does not leave 

 his hole before nightfall if his keen scent 

 or acute hearing warns him that it might 

 be the worse for him. He is an excel- 

 lent runner and jumper, crawls like a snake 

 noiselessly along the ground when he wants 



