1 1 60 Quadrupeds. 



history of varieties ; and hope that this may he a prelude to a more intimate investiga- 

 tion of this most difficult subject. — H. T. Frere ; Aylsham, Norfolk, October 3, 1845. 



The two Foxes. " He (the narrator) was one day in the fields, near a stream where 

 several geese were swimming. Presently, he observed one disappear under the water, 

 with a sudden jerk. While he looked for her to rise again, he saw a fox emerge from 

 the water, and trot off to the woods with the unfortunate goose in his mouth. He 

 chanced to go in a direction where it was easy for the man to watch his movements. 

 He carried his burden to a recess under an overhanging rock. Here he scratched 

 away a mass of dry leaves, scooped a hole, hid his treasure within, and covered it up 

 very carefully. Then off he went to the stream again, entered some distance behind 

 the flock of geese, and floated noiselessly along, with merely the tip of his nose visible 

 above the surface. But this time he was not so fortunate in his manoeuvres. The 

 geese, by some accident, took the alarm, and flew away with loud cackling. The fox 

 finding himself defeated, walked off in a direction opposite to the place where his vic- 

 tim was buried. The man went to the hole, uncovered it, put the goose in his basket, 

 replaced the leaves carefully, and stood patiently at a distance, to watch further pro- 

 ceedings. The sly thief was soon seen returning with another fox, that he had invited 

 to dine with him. They trotted along right merrily, swinging their tails, snuffing the 

 air, and smacking their lips, in anticipation of a rich repast. When they arrived un- 

 der the rock, Reynard eagerly scratched away the leaves ; but lo, his dinner had dis- 

 appeared ! He looked at his companion, and plainly saw by his countenance, that he 

 more than misdoubted whether any goose was ever there, as pretended. He evidently 

 considered his friend's hospitality a sham, and himself insulted. His contemptuous 

 expression was more than the mortified fox could bear. Though conscious of gene- 

 rous intentions, he felt that all assurances to that effect would be regarded as lies. 

 Appearances were certainly very much against him ; for his tail slunk between his legs, 

 and he held his head down, looking sideways, with a sneaking glance at his disap- 

 pointed companion. Indignant at what he supposed to be an attempt to get up a 

 character for generosity on false pretences, the offended guest seized his unfortunate 

 host, and cuffed him most unmercifully. Poor Reynard bore the infliction with the 

 utmost patience, and sneaked off, as if conscious that he had received no more than 

 might naturally be expected, under the circumstances." — Philadelphia Friend. 



On Cattle mouthing Bones. Having read two accounts in ' The Zoologist ' of a 

 singular act performed by a cow and sheep (Zool. 1048 and 1 105), I am induced to 

 trouble you with a few lines, stating the result of my observation. In Australia, where 

 the cattle are allowed to feed up to the very doors of our huts, there is a much better 

 opportunity of studying their habits than in this country, where the pastures are more 

 or less removed from the houses. As but few scavengers' carts are to be met with in 

 the wilds of Australia, to remove bones and other refuse matter from the various sta- 

 tions, it is the practice there to throw all such rubbish in every direction. I have, 

 from this circumstance, at least a hundred times seen the cattle and horses mouthing 

 the large beef and mutton bones, those that were slightly decomposed evidently being 

 preferred,— (query, because they were softer?). I always supposed it was done for the 

 sake of their earthy salts. All animals, as far as I have had an opportunity of observ- 

 ing (horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, dogs and hares), having a decided penchant for salts. 

 The in frequency of cases similar to those recorded in ■ The Zoologist,' no doubt arises 

 from the fact that bones arc not generally found in pasture lands. In Amboyna, the 

 cattle are daily driven to the sea, to drink salt water: and in this country, in some lo- 



