110 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



pigeon by walking right among the flock with an elaborate affectation of 

 indifference. 



Lambs sometimes fall victims to the Fox in our mountain districts ; 

 and in such places, where he cannot be hunted in the orthodox way, he 

 is shot down like any other destructive animal in consequence. Carrion is 

 always acceptable to Reynard, and, though he is not known to eat fruit in 

 England, he does so on the Continent, and after revelling for some time 

 on the traditional grapes and other soft fruit, he becomes fat and loses his 

 rank smell to some extent. 



Whatever is left from his meals the Fox carefully hides, like the Dog 

 tribe generally ; this is some excuse for the apparently wanton destruction 

 he wreaks in a hen-house, in which he will kill all the inmates. No 

 doubt he intends in such a case to take away all the fowls and bury 

 them, in order to live in luxurious idleness for some time. 



Although he will often " lie out," especially in hot weather, the Fox's 

 proper home is in his earth, which he does not dig for himself if he can 

 possibly appropriate another animal's home. The Rabbit's, of course, 

 needs enlarging, but the Badger's suits him exactly, and is often used. In 

 the earth the vixen has her cubs, which are at first very different from old 

 Foxes, being of a sooty colour throughout. They are playful and amusing 

 little things, and make interesting pets, though naturally it is difficult to 

 get them to let poultry alone. The vixen is a very fond mother, and 

 spares no trouble in feeding and educating them. Except during their 

 family life, Foxes are solitary animals, and usually quiet ; their note is a 

 japping bark. 



One of the most interesting habits of the Fox is his custom of 

 sparing Rabbits or fowls which live near his den. In the case of 

 poultry it is easy enough to see that it is obviously to his interest to 

 do this, if he wishes to live in peace with his human neighbours ; but 

 it is noticed that his family, when they begin to forage for themselves, 

 are not so forbearing, and the habit may have reference to the obvious 

 need of having a confiding population of fur and feather for the cubs 

 to practise hunting upon. 



The Fox is, of course, not a popular individual with other animals — • 



