The Fox .29 



approach of the fox. I watched this most interesting 

 strategy several times, but not being entirely satisfied, 

 I chose a hound instead of a shepherd dog and, keep- 

 ing firm hold upon the chain, I approached the den, 

 resolved to study the situation, until I could ascer- 

 tain the meaning of the peculiar behavior of the 

 foxes. 



The red fox behaved exactly as before — approach- 

 ing in plain sight and, when the dog was loosed, 

 leading him on a "straightaway." In a short time 

 the distant baying of the hound could no longer be 

 heard. Not until the next morning did he return. 

 For my own satisfaction and for that of those who 

 are interested in fox lore, I repeated the experiment 

 three times within ten days, with the same results. 



On one occasion I took the hound to the knoll 

 which was so often frequented by the female fox. 

 Away he went on a fresh trail to the south. At inter- 

 vals I could catch his baying, as he emerged into a 

 clearing or passed over an eminence. After twenty 

 minutes these sounds failed to reach my ear. During 

 this time I had remained seated on the knoll from 

 which the hound started. Imagine my surprise when, 

 on hearing a fox bark, I turned and saw the dark 

 colored fox standing not more than twenty rods 

 from me I What did this mean? I was now at very 



