THE FARMER'S SLY NEIGHBOR. 



215 



loss of a few bothersome hens, if we will take the 

 trouble to study his marvelously sagacious character. 

 He has little to depend upon in the struggle for ex- 

 istence beyond his wits ; he is thoroughly carnivorous, 

 and must catch what he can without risking a fight 

 with creatures more fully equipped with means of de- 

 fense than himself. Consequentlj^ his prey is com- 

 prised of only those animals which can make the least 

 show of resistance. The skunk he will catch un- 

 awares, if he can ; at most it 

 will only be a coniiict 

 between sharp teeth, if /i_^ 

 Reynard can clinch m 

 with him before JRiWi/ 

 there is a chance 

 for a bombardment. 

 Then, among the ro- 

 dents there are musk- 

 rats, woodchucks, 

 hares, squirrels, and mice. Birds, poultry, and eggs 

 he is, of course, especially addicted to ; frogs, and 

 even fish, he does not disdain, and I have known him 

 to make away with the carcass of a horse in the winter 

 season. It is even recorded by more than one au- 

 thority that he is partial to wild grapes and strawber- 

 ries ; but I have no knowledge of his vegetarian pro- 

 chvity, and I doubt whether fruit of any description 



Fox asleep (showing the warmth and 

 protection of the bushy tail). 



