THE FOX, 



" A sly dog." 



Somehow people always say 

 that when they see a Fox. I'd 

 rather they would call me that 

 than stupid, however. Do I 

 look stupid in my picture? 



''Look pleasant,'' said the man 

 when taking my photograph for 

 Birds, and I flatter myself I did 

 — and intelligent, too. Look at 

 my brainy head, my delicate 

 ears — broad below to catch every 

 sound, and tapering so sharply 

 to a point that they can shape 

 themselves to every wave of 

 sound. Note the crafty calcula- 

 tion and foresight of my low, 

 flat brow, the resolute purpose 

 of my pointed nose; my eye deep 

 set — like a robber's — my thin 

 cynical lips, and mouth open 

 from ear to ear. You couldn't 

 find a better looking Fox if you 

 searched the world over. 



I can leap, crawl, run, and 

 swim, and walk so noiselessly 

 that even the dead leaves won't 

 rustle under my feet. It takes 

 a deal of cunning for a Fox to 

 get along in this world, I can 

 tell you. I'd go hungry if I 

 didn't plan and observe the 

 habits of other creatures. For 

 instance: I love Fish. When I 

 want one for my supper off I 

 trot to the nearest stream, and 

 standing very quiet, watch till I 

 spy a nice, plump trout in the 



clear water. A leap, a snap, and 

 it is all over with Mr. Trout. 



Another time I feel as though 

 I'd like a crawfish. I see one 

 snoozing by his hole near the 

 water's edge. I drop my fine, 

 bushy tail into the water and 

 tickle him on the ear. That 

 makes him furious — nobody 

 likes to be wakened from a nap 

 that way — and out he darts at 

 the tail; snap go my jaws, and 

 Mr. Crawfish is crushed in them, 

 shell and all. 



Between you and me, I con- 

 sider that a very clever trick, 

 too. Don't you? 



Summer is my favorite season 

 of the year. How I love the 

 green fields, the ripening grain, 

 the delicious fruits, for then the 

 Rabbits prick up their long ears, 

 and thinking themselves out of 

 danger, run along the hillside; 

 then the quails skulk in the 

 wheat stubble, and the birds hop 

 and fly about the whole day long. 

 I am very fond of Rabbits, 

 Quails, and other Birds. They 

 make a very satisfactory meal. 

 For dessert I have only to sneak 

 into an orchard and eat my fill 

 of apples, pears, and grapes. 

 You perceive I have very good 

 reason for liking the summer. 

 Its the merriest time of the year 

 for me, and my cubs. They 

 grow fat and saucy, too. 



73 



