OEDEE OF CAENIVOEA. 391 



having robbed her, and probably the discussion was only ter- 

 minated by a quarrel. 



On the next market day the same larceny was committed. It 

 was believed to be the waggish trick of some urchin in the 

 neighbourhood, and some suspicion was even attached to the 

 young clerks of the sheriff, who occupied the ground-floor of 

 the house. 



At the succeeding market a watcher was placed before the 

 dealer, to observe what went on around her ; but this person saw 

 nothing, although one half the number of broken eggs disappeared. 



The case became serious. The dealer then bethought herself 

 of depositing her property beneath her petticoat, between her 

 feet, certain that there they would be in safety. But the eggs 

 again vanished. As a matter of course all was attributed to 

 witchcraft. 



It was not long after this when the truth was discovered. The 

 druggist's Fox was found squatted in the ventilators, and where 

 no one could ever have believed it possible the beast could intro- 

 duce itself, so narrow were the openings. As soon as an egg 

 was laid on the ground, it pushed up its head, seized it and with- 

 drew. This operation it could perform with perfect security, 

 concealed as it was not only by the feet and the petticoats of the 

 dealer, but also by the panniers that lay around. 



One of the most frequent stratagems of the Fox, and which 

 denotes an extraordinary amount of intelligence, consists in 

 simulating death when surprised by the hunters, and there is no 

 hope of safety by flight. It may then be handled, kicked 

 about in every direction, even lifted by the tail, hung up in the 

 air, or carried thrown over one's shoulder, without showing 

 the slightest sign of vitality. But as soon as released, and 

 opportunity for escape offers, it will decamp with all haste, to the 

 great amazement of those so cleverly duped. 



The Fox most frequently inhabits a burrow or " earth," which 

 it excavates among stones, rocks, or under the trunk of a tree, at 

 the edge of a wood ; at other times it digs its subterraneous retreat 

 on cultivated land ; always it is careful to have it on an elevated 

 slope, so as to be protected against rain and inundations. 



At times it appropriates the burrow of a Rabbit or Badger, and 

 rearranges it to suit itself. In the first case, it simply throttles 



