LITTLE BEASTS OF FIELD AND WOOD 



ferior of the red fox in every way, except perhaps 

 in the matter of tree climbing, for which it appears 

 to be rather better adapted than the other, 

 though I am unable to learn that it ever does 

 much more than take refuge among the lower 

 branches when closely pursued, which is really 

 no more than the red fox will do on occasion, 

 though more rarely. 



In the open country the gray fox appears to be 

 at a decided disadvantage. And even in those 

 parts of the country where it was originally 

 most abundant, it quickly disappears with the 

 clearing away of the forest. 



That it is a most intelligent animal is beyond 

 dispute ; but both in intelligence and general 

 appearance, it seems to me from what I can 

 gather to be a much more commonplace sort of 

 little beast, to be classed with the woodchucks 

 and hares, whose appearance in the woods and 

 fields seems perfectly natural and hardly likely 

 to attract especial attention. 



58 



