{50 MAMMALIA—FOX 
DEE, JOR 

Is one of the most widely distributed animals, and is found in all the tempe- 
rate and northern regions of the old and new world. With one exception, 
the structure of the eye, the organization of the fox and dog are similar. 
Hence the fox preys by night. He has always been famous for his cunning ; 
he generally fixes his residence at the edge of a wood, and yet not far re- 
moved from some cottage or some hamlet. He listens to the crowing of 
the cock, and the cackling of other domestic fowls: even at a considerable 
distance he scents them, and seizes his opportunity. If he be able to get 
into the yard, he begins by levelling all the poultry without remorse. This 
done, he carries off a part of the spoil, hides it at some convenient distance, 
and again returns to the charge. Taking off another fowl in the same 
manner, he hides that also, though not in the same place; and this method 
he practises for several times together, till warned by the approach of day, 
or the noise of the family, he finally retires. The same arts are observed 
when he finds birds entangled in springs laid for them by the fowler ; with 
whom the fox, taking care to be beforehand, very expertly snatches the birds 
out of the snare, conceals them in different places, leaves them there some- 
times for two or three days, and is never at a loss to recover his hidden 
treasure. He is equally alert in seizing the young hares and rabbits, before 
they have strength enough to escape him; and when the old ones are 
wounded and fatigued, he is sure to come upon them in the moments of 
distress, and to show them no mercy. In the same manner he finds 
out the nests of the partridge and the quail, and seizes the mother while 
sitting. 


1 C. vulpes, Lin. 
