THE FOX, 7 
ACCORDING to some systematic naturalists the FOXES are placed in the 
genus Camzs, together with the dogs and the wolves. Those eminent zoolo- 
gists, however, who have arranged the magnificent collections in the British 
Museum, have decided upon separating the Foxes from the dogs and wolves, 
and placing them in the genus Vu/fes. To this decision they have come 
for several reasons, among which may be noted the shape of the pupil of the 
eye, which in the Foxes is elongated, but in the animals which compose the 
genus Cazzs is circular. The ears of the Foxes are triangular in shape, and 
pointed, and the tail is always exceedingly bushy. 
A very powerful scent is poured forth from the Fox in consequence of some 
glands which are placed near the root of the tail, and furnish the odorous 
secretion. Glands of a similar nature, but not so well developed, are found 
in the wolves. 
It is by this scent that the hounds axe able to follow the footsteps of a 
flying Fox, and to run it down by their superior speed and endurance. The 
Fox, indeed, seems to be aware that its pursuers are guided in their chase 
by this odour, and puts in practice every expedient that its fertile brain can 
produce in order to break 
the continuity of the scent, 
or to overpower it by the 
presence of other odours, 
which are more powerful 
though not more agreeable. 
Even when tamed it pre- 
serves its singular cunning. 
A tame Fox, that was kept 
in a stable-yard, had ma- 
naged to strike up a friend- 
ship with several of th2 
dogs, and would play with 
them, but could never in- 
duce the cats to approach 
him. Cats are very sensi- 
tive in their nostrils, and 
could not endure the odour. 
They would not even walk FOX —( Vulpes vulgaris.) 
upon any spot where the 
Fox had been standing, and kept as far aloof as possible from him. 
The crafty animal soon perceived that the cats would not come near him, 
and made use of his knowledge to cheat them of their breakfast. As soon 
as the servant poured out the cats’ allowance of milk, the Fox would run to 
the spot and walk about the saucer, well knowing that none of the rightful 
owners would approach the defiled locality. Day after day the cats lost their 
mnilk until the stratagem was discovered, and the milk was placed in a spot 
where it could not be reached by the Fox. 
The Fox resides in burrows, which it scoops out of the earth by the aid of 
its strong digging paws, taking advantage of every peculiarity of the ground, 
and contriving, whenever it is possible, to wind its subterranean way among 
the roots of large trees or between heavy stones. In these “earths,” as the 
as the burrows are called in the sportsman’s phraseology, the female Fox 
produces and nurtures her young, which are odd little snub-nosed creatures, 
resemvling almost any animal rather than a Fox. She watches over her 
o-fspring with greit care, and teaches them by degrees to subsist on animal 
food, which she and her mate capture for that purpose. 
The colour of the common Fox is a reddish fawn, intermixed with black 
—A 
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