THE FOX. 



The grand object of the Fox is ielf prefervation, he, therefore, never 

 trulls to his fpeed or cunning, but always takes care to provide for himfclf 

 a fure afylum, to retreat to, in cafe of danger: in ehufing this, fafety is 

 not his only object; he ufually felects the edge of a wood, in the 

 neighbourhood of fome farm or village; here he paffes his day, though not 

 idly, for as foon as fleep has taken off the fatigue of the preceding night's 

 excursions, he liftens attentively to the crowing of the Cocks and cackling 

 of the Hens, marks their abodes, to direct his attack by night; and thofe who 

 are imprudent enough to ramble too far from their home by day, are in 

 imminent danger from his fubtil ty and vigilance; thefe he fcents at a 

 diliance, and creeping flyly towards them, chufes his time of attack fo 

 judiciouily, that he fel do m returns without his booty. When he gets into 

 ahen-rooft by night, he kills all he can come at, and retreating with as much 

 as he can carry off, hides his prey at fome convenient diliance, and prefently 

 returns for more, which he likewife hides, though in a different place, and 

 then continues his vilits, until he has either carried off all, or is difturbed by 

 the approach of day or other wife, when he inftantly retires to his den. 



The Fox is extremely voracious, and, befides flefh, will greedily devour 

 milk, cheefe, butter, eggs, fruit, and particularly grapes, of which he is fo 

 fond, that he foon becomes fat by eating them. Poultry, Leverets, and 

 Partridges feem to be his dainty morfels, but when he cannot find thefe in 

 plenty, he devours Serpents, Toads, Lizards, Rats, and Mice in abundance, and 

 thus he renders the farmer one piece of fervice, as a fort of compenfation for 

 the reft of his depredations. He frequently difappoints the fowler, by 

 viliting the fnares he has fet early in the morning, and artfully taking from 

 them the birds which are caught. Crabs, Infects, and even Hedge-Hogs are 

 fometimes his prey; and he will attack bee-hives and wafps'-nefts for the 

 fake of what he can find to eat; it is true he frequently meets with fo rough 

 a reception as to force him to retire, that he may roll on the ground and 

 crulh thofe which are Hinging him; having thus rid himfelf of his 

 troublefome companions, he inftantly returns to the charge, and obliges 



