FOX HUNTING IN AMERICA. 257 
two hours at most, when we thought ourselves fortunate, 
when he first came amongst us, if we run him down in 
twelve,’—is equally plain. He is a Northern animal, and 
the fat living you give him, and your warm climate, have 
degenerated the gaunt starveling of the North. 
Godman, in his American Natural History, disposes of the 
question in quite a summary manner, and, no doubt, greatly 
to his own satisfaction. He says :— 
By the fineness of its fur, the liveliness of its color, 
length of limbs, and slenderness of body, as well as the form 
of its skull, the Red Fox of America is obviously distinguished 
from the common fox of Europe, to which, in other respects, 
it bears a resemblance sufficiently striking to mislead an inci- 
dental observer. . 
But to suppose this question of varieties settled, we may 
proceed in justice to say that with all his persecution Reynard 
has never been remarkable for ill-nature, except. after the 
manner of a practical joker, who gives and takes; he has too 
great regard for his ancient and privileged character as a 
humorist, ever to show his teeth savagely, except when fully 
cornered, and then he dies game. No wonder the gall of bitter- 
ness should be stirred within him at the venal and unfair 
method of pursuit common in the Northern States, where the 
Cross Fox is hunted by countrymen on foot through the snow. 
The dogs used are a mongrel cross upon the cur hound and 
grayhound. This animal is stronger and swifter than any 
thorough-bred, and better suited for this peculiar purpose— 
for the object is simply to get the skin and turn it into dollars 
and cents in the most direct possible manner. There is no 
poetry or chivalry in this kind of chase, of which Dr. Bach- 
man gives the following account. 
In the fresh-fallen and deep snows of mid-winter, the 
hunters are most successful. During these severe snow 
storms, the ruffled grouse, called in our Eastern States the 
partridge, is often snowed up and covered over ; or sometimes 
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