TJie Dog Jrtbe. 105 



tame wolf and the domestic dog, their offspring being 

 especially powerful and courageous. 



NEXT we come to the FOXES, of which there are 

 several species. Formerly included by zoologists in 

 the preceding genus Cants, together with the dogs 

 and the wolves, they were separated by later 

 writers on account of the elongated pupil of the 

 eye, and also from the bushy nature of the tail. 

 The ears, too, are always triangular, and are sharply 

 pointed. 



The best known of the foxes, of course, is that 

 found in our own country ( Vulpes vulgaris\ and which 

 is so familiar to us on account of the chase, for which 

 it is specially preserved. 



The colour of this animal is a rich reddish-brown, 

 becoming rather lighter on the lower parts of the 

 body. At the approach of winter the fur becomes 

 perceptibly paler, and at the same time increases 

 greatly in thickness, just as is the case with the stoat, 

 although not to the same degree. The tip of the 

 tail, or ' brush,' always retains a more or less whitish 

 hue. 



Perhaps the most remarkable point in the nature of 

 the fox is the singularly powerful and unpleasant 

 odour which is exuded from the body, and which 

 proceeds from glands situated near the tail. So 

 strong is this scent, that any object touched by the 

 fox retains the odour for a considerable period of 

 time. 



The fox seems to be aware of the possession of 

 this peculiar property, although, in all probability, his 

 nostrils are unable to perceive the odour ; for when 

 hunted he will try every means which occurs to his 

 fertile brain to break the line of scent. For this 

 purpose he employs a perfect variety of tricks, such 

 as returning upon his own track for some little distance, 



