NATURAL HISTORY. 



Fig. 35. Fox. 



found, and comes forth stealthily at night in search of its 

 prey, which consists of fowls, rabbits, etc. It is a great 

 robber of the hen-roost. Though a slender animal, the 

 Fox is very muscular, and has great speed. This, with 

 the cunning which it exercises in its various expedients 

 for escape, renders the fox-chase very exciting, and it is 

 one of the grand sports of English noblemen. Besides 

 the common Fox, there are many other species. The 

 Arctic Fox, which is found only in the extreme north, is 

 remarkable for the changes which its hair exhibits. In 

 summer it is of a dusky ash color, but in winter it turns 

 white, and becomes fuller and thicker, even covering the 

 soles of the feet. 



85. The Jackal, Fig. 36 (p. 55), is found in North Af- 

 rica, Persia, and India. It is somewhat like the Fox in 

 appearance, though it has not so bushy a tail. It is like 

 the wolf, however, in its habits. Jackals, like wolves, 

 hunt in packs. They are concealed during the day, and 

 come forth at night filling the air with their shrieks, 

 which all describe as being horrid. , They are very use- 

 ful in the Eastern countries as scavengers, devouring the 

 'offal which the uncleanly inhabitants cast out of their 



