EDWARD BURGESS. 71 



to collect and drain the water into them. There are 

 many tribes of savages quite unequal to an achievement 

 like this, who could neither devise such plans, nor 

 having devised them, exercise the patience and industry 

 necessary to put them into execution. 



The cunning of the fox is notorious and I am inclined to 

 think that common report has not overdrawn it. Jesse 

 tells an incident showing how foxes work together. A 

 sportsman and his attendant were watching for hares. 

 They had stationed themselves near a gully on a rocky, 

 sloping piece of ground, when they saw two foxes 

 approach. After playing with each other for a few 

 moments, one secreted himself behind a rock, while the 

 other disappeared up the gully. Presently he reappear- 

 ed, driving a hare before him. The concealed fox made 

 a spring for the hare, but missed him. The other was so 

 enraged at the loss, owing to his partner's want of skill, 

 that he flew at him and fought with such fury, that the 

 men came up and easily killed them both. This incident 

 is not so remarkable, excepting as showing how foxes can 

 act together for a common end, and what resentment 

 they can feel, if one fails properly to perform his part. 

 The other incident that I shall narrate is remarkable, and 

 could scarcely be credited, unless it was supported by 

 the most undoubted testimony. Dr. Rae, the celebrated 

 Arctic explorer, while in the Polar regions, was desirous 

 of securing some specimens of Arctic foxes. He tried the 

 ordinary traps, but without any success. He then set a 

 trap with which the foxes in that part of the country 

 were not acquainted. To a piece of bait a string was 

 attached, which was connected with the hammer of a 

 gun, mounted about 31 yards off. The fox would seize 

 the bait, pull the strong and discharge the gun, thus 

 killing himself. By this device, he secured one, but 

 could never get another. The bait disappeared, and 

 nothing but the tracks of the foxes could be found. 



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