86 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



of the former, the Foxes knew nothing of the European, and his 

 traps and guns, and had no suspicion that a bait was meant for 

 any other purpose than to be eaten. Before the European came 

 into these northern regions, the Fox was very little molested ; 

 but when men found that its skin was a little fortune, and that 

 its flesh was generally eatable, the Fox was subjected to a mer- 

 ciless persecution. For, even in its ordinary state, the skin of 

 the Arctic Fox is in great favor as a fur ; but when it is bleach- 

 ed by the dread cold of the regions in which the animal resides, 

 and is of a pure snowy whiteness down to the very roots of the 

 hair, it is so exceedingly costly, that a mantle made of that fur is 

 only to be purchased by millionaires, or placed on imperial shoul- 

 ders. I am afraid to say how many thousand pounds have been 

 paid for a mantle of white fox -skins. In consequence of the 

 value of the fur, scarcely a Fox can show his sharp nose without 

 being tempted by baits or followed by riflemen ; and so many 

 have fallen victims, that the survivors have learned wisdom. 



All persecuted animals learn wisdom. Try to catch an old 

 rat, and see how long you will have to wait before you see him' 

 in the trap. Try to snare an old raven, or even to hook an old 

 trout, and you will find that your best energies will be taxed, 

 and all your ingenuity tested, before you will succeed. So it has 

 been with the Foxes. They like the bait as well as ever, but 

 they have acquired a rooted distrust of wires, or sticks, or strings, 

 or indeed of any- thing to which they are not accustomed in their 

 everyday life, and therefore keep carefully aloof from every thing 

 that conveys suspicion to their eyes or nostrils. 



The flesh of the young Fox is very good eating, but that of 

 the old animal is almost valueless except to starving men, being 

 hard and stringy, and having a very unpleasant flavor. Even ' 

 the water in which it has been boiled is acrid, and apt to blister 

 the mouth and gums, But, although the flesh is valueless, the 

 skin is almost beyond price, and the fur of a fine old Fox in'per- 

 fect condition is worth many times its weight in gold. 



The habitation of the common Fox of this country is by no 

 means so complicated as that of the Arctic species. 



Whenever it can, the Fox avoids the labor of burrowing, and 

 avails itself of the deserted home of a badger, or even a rabbit. 

 In the former case there is very little to be done to the burrow,' 

 and in the latter the cunning animal finds its labor greatly di- 



