FOXES AND iiNOW-SUOES 203 



but by August the under-fur begins to thicken, and 

 when this Fox wears his heavy winter coat and is all 

 white, \yith the exception of his light brown eyes, black 

 nose, and brown claws, he is indeed a beautiful animal. 

 The under-fur is soft and thick, even tlie soles of the 

 feet being well padded to give their owners a firm foot- 

 ing in travelling on ice, as well as for warmth. The 

 tail is short and very bushy, while the longer fur is 

 thicker on the back than underneath." 



" What does this Fox eat 'way up there, and does he 

 make a home burrow in the snow ? " asked Nat. " I 

 should think he would be awfully Avild, and he must 

 work very hard for a living." 



" There are no hen roosts to rob, but you must not 

 forget the Arctic breeding birds and the Polar Hares. 

 Many an anxious day this white Fox must give the 

 Snowflake in its lowly nest, while the Eider Duck and 

 Great Snow Goose must think this four-footed snow- 

 drift a veritable spirit of evil. The little ground- 

 burrowing Lemming also helps to fill up the chinks in 

 ^Ir. Fox's stomach. Then there are the bits of flesh 

 and fat that the Polar Bear leaves behind when he has 

 captured a fat Seal, and fish are to be had for the 

 catching or often the picking up. In such a place 

 the Fox does not have to look for a refrigerator in 

 which to stow away spare scraps for the next meal. 

 I've often wondered how he manages to get his meat 

 into the over-ripe state that all the dog family consider 

 so delicious." 



" Please, uncle," interrupted Nat, " why do dogs like 

 spoiled meat so much better than fresh ? Quick always 

 rolls and rubs his head on any old fish or dead bird he 



