THE FOX. 17 



employed as means of locomotion. But the Fox is au admirable 

 runner, as any hunter can avouch, and its fore limbs are formed 

 for speed and endurance, their length enduing them with the 

 one quality, and their muscular lightness with the other. Yet, 

 just as the digging Umbs of the mole are used for locomotion, 

 and enable the animal to proceed at no contemptible speed ; so 

 the running limbs of the Fox are used for digging, and enable the 

 creature to excavate burrows of no contemptible dimensions. 



The Akctic Fox (Vulpes lagopus), an animal which dwells in 

 the polar regions, is notable for the extent and structure of the 

 burrow. In order to shield itself from the inclemency of the 

 climate, it digs to a considerable depth ; and it is rather remark- 

 able that a solitary burrow is seldom found, twenty or thirty 

 Foxes generally sinking theii tunnels in close proximity to each 

 other. 



Perhaps this semi-sociality may be accounted for in a very 

 simple manner, namely, the suitability of some particular piece 

 of ground, to which the Foxes flock by instinct, and in which 

 they drive as many burrows as the ground wiU accommodate. 

 This conjecture is the more likely to be true, because sandy 

 spots are always chosen for this purpose, where twenty or thirty 

 burrows are often sunk in close proximity to each other. Such 

 spots would be peculiarly suitable to the Fox, because the sandy 

 soil is not so likely to be hardened by the frost as that of a more 

 compact and watery nature, and would be easily thrown out by 

 the small though powerful feet of the animal. 



If one of these little colonies could be laid open, a very 

 curious sight would present itself. The earth would be seen to 

 be pierced with multitudinous tunnels, each complete and inde- 

 pendent in itself, and never interfering with burrows belonging 

 to other owners. Each burrow, too, is of a verj' complex cha- 

 racter, and by no means consists of a single tunnel, with a rude 

 nest at the extremity. There are three or four distinct passages, 

 each of which opens into the common chamber, which is of con- 

 siderable dimensions, and serves as a starting-place whence the 

 inhabitant can seek refuge in either of its passages, according 

 to the direction in which it apprehends danger. 



This chamber is not, however, the nursery for the young, a 

 second cavity being used for that purpose. The nursery is not 

 of great dimensions, and communicates by a passage with the 



c 



