BIRD PARADISE 185 



brings him into large prominence as he goes 

 blithely on his way. One of his favorite strolls 

 is along the slope of Simmons' Hill. If nothing 

 is hurrying him he will take abundance of time 

 and the trail he leaves behind is a very clear in- 

 dex of a quiet spirit. When the hounds are 

 sounding their horn — even though it be some dis- 

 tance away — the movements of the fox betoken a 

 condition of mind filled with alarm. I rather like 

 to see the fellow illustrating both conditions. 

 Someway I get something out of each condition 

 that gives one a clearer vision of the creature so 

 wild and alert. Not much occurs anywhere in 

 their vicinity that they are not conscious of. I 

 have seen them when the faint squeak of a mouse 

 arrested their attention and set every faculty of 

 their being on the alert. What hunters they are ! 

 I know of no other wild animal that can hear and 

 see so much as the fox. And when once his at- 

 tention is aroused he is almost sure to secure the 

 quarry that comes into the range of his knowledge. 

 Many things in the character of the fox I like, 

 still I do not want him too friendly. 



In the thick fog this morning a company of 

 crows became wholly lost. I heard the flapping 



