GRAY FOX. 165 



of wild turkeys less that season. Coveys of partridges, which gene- 

 rally at the dusk of the evening, fly into some sheltered place, and hide 

 in the tall grass, arrange themselves for the night in a circle, with 

 their tails touching each other, and their heads turned outward ; the 

 Gray Fox possessing a considerable power of scent, winds them like a 

 pointer dog, and often discovers where they are thus snugly nestled, and 

 pounces on them, invariably carrying off" at least one of the covey. 



On a cold, drizzly, sleety, rainy day, while travelling in Carolina, we 

 observed a Gray Fox in a field of broom-grass, coursing against the 

 wind, and hunting in the manner of the pointer dog. We stopped to wit- 

 ness his manoeuvres : suddenly he stood still, and squatted low on his 

 haunches ; a moment after, he proceeded on once more, but with slow 

 and cautious steps ; at times his nose was raised high in the air, moving 

 about from side to side. At length he seemed to be sure of his game, and 

 went straight forward, although very slowly, at times crawling on the 

 earth ; he was occasionally hidden by the grass, so that we could not see 

 him very distinctly ; however, at length we observed him make a dead 

 halt. There was no twisting or horizontal movement of the tail, like that 

 made by the common house-cat when ready to make a spring, but his tail 

 seemed resting on the side, whilst his ears were drawn back and his head 

 raised only a few inches from the earth ; he remained in this attitude 

 nearly half a minute, and then made a sudden pounce upon his prey ; at 

 the same instant the whirring of the distracted covey was heard, as the 

 affrighted birds took wing ; two or three sharp screams succeeded, and 

 the successful prowler immediately passed out of the field with an unfor- 

 tunate partridge in his mouth, evidently with the intention of seeking a 

 more retired spot to make a dainty meal. We had a gun with us, and 

 he passed within long gun-shot of us. But why wound or destroy him ? 

 He has enabled us for the first time to bear witness that he is not only a 

 dog, but a good pointer in the bargain ; he has obeyed an impulse of na- 

 ture, and obtained a meal in the manner in which it was intended by the 

 wise Creator that he should be supplied. He seized only a single bird, 

 whilst man, who would wreak his vengeance on this poacher among 

 the game, is not satisfied till he has killed half the covey with the mur- 

 derous gun, or caught the whole brood in a trap, and wrung off their 

 necks in triumph. Condemn not the Fox too hastily ; he has a more 

 strikingly carnivorous tooth than yourself, indicating the kind of food he 

 is required to seek ; he takes no wanton pleasure in destroying the bird, 

 he exhibits to his companions no trophies of his skill, and is contented 

 with a meal ; whilst you are perhaps not satisfied when your capacious 

 bird-bag is filled. 



