THE FOX. 89 



and listening, and will almost run over the hunter if 

 he stands still, even though not at all concealed. 



Animals of this class depend far less upon their 

 sight than upon their hearing and sense of smell. 

 Neither the fox nor the dog is capable of much dis- 

 crimination with the eye ; they seem to see things 

 only in the mass ; but with the nose they can analyze, 

 and define, and get at the most subtle shades of differ- 

 ence. The fox will not read a man from a stump or 

 a rock, unless he gets his scent, and the dog does not 

 know his master in a crowd until he has smelt him. 



On the occasion to which I refer, it was not many 

 minutes after the dogs entered the woods on the side 

 of the mountain, before they gave out sharp and 

 eager, and we knew at once that the fox was started. 

 We were then near a point that had been designated 

 as a sure run-way, and hastened to get into position 

 with all speed. For my part I was so taken with 

 the music of the hounds as it swelled up over the 

 ridge, that I quite forgot the game. I saw one of 

 my companions leveling his gun, and looking a few 

 rods to the right, saw the fox coming right on to 

 us. I had barely time to note the silly and abashed 

 expression that came over him as he saw us in his 

 path, when he was cut down as by a flash of light- 

 ning. The rogue did not appear frightened, but 

 ashamed and out of countenance as one does when 

 some trick has been played upon him, or when de- 

 tected in some mischief. 



Late in the afternoon, as we were passing through 



