OF NATURAL HISTORY. 405 



The fox has, in all ages and nations, been celebrated for crafdnefs 

 and addrefs. Acute and circumfpeft, fagacious and prudent, he di- 

 verfifies his condud, and always referves fome art for unforefeen 

 accidents. Though nimbler than the wolf, be trufts not entirely to 

 the fwiftnefs of his courfe. He knows how to enfure fafety, by 

 providing himfelf with an afylum, to which he retires when danger 

 appears. He is not a vagabond, but lives in a fettled habitation and 

 in a domeftic ftate. The choice of fituation, the art of making and 

 rendering a houfe commodious, and of concealing the avenues which 

 lead to it, imply a fuperior degree of fentiment and refledion. The 

 fox poflefles thefe qualities, and employs them with dexterity and 

 advantage. He takes up his abode on the border of a wood, and in 

 the neighbourhood of cottages. Here he lidens to the crowing of 

 the cocks and the noife of the poultry. He fccnts them at a diftance. 

 He choofes his time with great judgment and difcretion. He con- 

 ceals both his route and his defign. He moves forward with cau- 

 tion, fometimes even trailing his body, and feldom makes a fruitlefs 

 expedition. When he leaps the wall, or gets in underneath it, he 

 ravages the court-yard, puts all the fowls to death, and then retires 

 quietly with his prey, which he either conceals under the herbage, 

 or carries off to his kennel. In a fhort time he returns for another, 

 which he carries off and hides in the fame manner, but in a different 

 place. In this manner he proceeds, till the light of the fun, or fome 

 movements perceived in the houfe, admonifh him that it is time to 

 retire to his den. He does much mifchief to the bird-catchers. Ear- 

 ly in the morning he vifits their nets and their bird-lime, and carries 

 off fuccelTively all the birds that happen to be entangled. The young 

 hares he hunts in the plains, feizes old ones in their feats, digs out 

 the rabbits in the warrens, finds out the nefts of partridges, quails, 

 &c. feizes the mothers on the eggs, and deftroys a prodigious num- 

 ber of game. Dogs of all kinds fpontaneoufly hunt the fox. Though 

 his odour be ftrong, they often prefer him to the flag or the hare. 



When 



