THE RED FOX. 



XCEPT in South America and 

 Australia, Foxes are distributed 

 over all the great con- 

 tinents. There are known 

 to be between twenty-five and thirty 

 species. They diflfer from the dog 

 family in the greater sharpness of the 

 nose and the greater length and 

 bushiness of the tail. 



The Red Fox of eastern North 

 America is closely allied to the 

 common Fox of Europe, and is 

 regarded by many naturalists as only 

 a variety of the common species, an 

 opinion which is somewhat confirmed 

 by the fact that no remains of the Red 

 Fox have been found in the cave 

 deposits, although remains of the 

 Grey Fox have been. It is larger 

 than the common Fox of Europe, the 

 fur longer and softer, and the color 

 more brilliant. It is said that it does 

 not possess the wind of the English 

 Fox. It runs for about a hundred 

 yards with great swiftness, but its 

 strength is exhausted in the first 

 burst, and it is soon overtaken by a 

 wolf or a mounted horseman. In 

 Canada and the United States it is 

 largely hunted for its valuable fur, 

 many thousands of skins being 

 annually exported. The Fox is 

 exceedingly shy and difficult of 

 approach, owing probably to the 

 persistency with which it is hunted 

 by the fur traders. Only the Red and 

 Grey Foxes are hunted. There are 

 several permanent colors of this species 

 similar to those found in our Squirrels, 

 the young presenting a variety of 

 colors in the same litter. In Ohio and 

 others of tlie middle states, Foxes are 

 said to be hunted as follows : On an 

 appointed day, the vv^hole of the 

 population of the neighborhood turn 

 out and inclose as large a tract 

 of country as possible, all hands 



leisurely advancing toward some 

 point near the center of the circle; 

 as they advance a great noise is 

 made that the game may be driven 

 before them. When the circle is 

 quite small, and the Foxes are seen 

 running about looking for an opening 

 by which to escape, small boys are 

 sent in with directions to catch the 

 animals, a task which is not accom- 

 plished without much exertion and 

 perhaps a few bites. When a Fox is 

 caught, it is sold to pay the expenses 

 of the hunt. 



Fox hunting as practised in England 

 was transported to this country as 

 early as the middle of the eighteenth 

 century. In the mother country it is 

 one of the greatest pleasures accorded 

 to the titled gentry; the Horses are 

 bred for the purpose, and a first-class 

 hunter commands a large price. Man 5' 

 Virginia planters of leisure and means 

 were accustomed before the Civil War 

 to keep a number of Hounds, and with 

 the best riders of the neighboring 

 county, frequently held their "meets," 

 when, with horn and whipper-in, and 

 all other accompaniments, according 

 to true English Fox-hunting rules, 

 they would start Reynard and follow 

 him to the death. The wealthy and 

 leisure class of New York pursue the 

 sport in true English style in many 

 places on Long Island. 



When pursued, the Fox gives out a 

 strong, disagreeable scent, which lies 

 so long on the ground that it may be 

 perceived for nearly an hour after he 

 has passed. Of its cunning when 

 pursued, many tales are related, such 

 as driving another Fox out of its lair 

 and forcing it to substitute itself as 

 the chase ; diving into a heap of 

 manure, to throw the dogs off the 

 scent ; fording streams, doubling or 

 its track, and so forth. 



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