THE FOX. 



of excellent quality; their Ikins are purchafed with great avidity, for the fake 

 of their warmth and beauty, and form a confiderable article of commerce. 

 The Ikins of blue Foxes are very fcarce and valuable; but the black ones are 

 mofi efteemed, and are frequently fold for forty or fifty crowns each. The 

 hair of thefe animals grows in fo lingular a manner, that it is not poflible to 

 tell which way the grain lies ; for if the fkin is held by the head, the hair 

 falls down fmooth and even towards the tail; and, if it is held by the tail, 

 the hair inftantly takes a contrary direclion, equally regular. In Siberia and 

 Kamtfchatka, Foxes are caught by different devices, for the fake of their 

 Ikins; and it is there remarked, that the moft valuable Foxes are the moll 

 cunning and difficult to be taken. The general method of catching them, is 

 either by poifon, traps, or bows; but they are fo cunning, that great addrefs 

 is neceffary to accomplish the end. " (A)The Kuriles, who live upon the 

 JLopatka, catch Foxes in a manner peculiar to themfelves. They have a net 

 made of whale's beards, compofed of feveral rings ; this is fpread upon the 

 ground, and to a ring in the middle they bind a Magpie ; round the net is 

 drawn a cord, the ends of which are held by a perfon concealed in a pit near 

 at hand, who, when the Fox fprings upon the bird, draws the cord, and 

 gathers together the net, which furrounds the Fox, as a drag net does a fifh." 



The Fox bites with great fe verity, like the Wolf, and his bite is very 

 dangerous and difficult to cure. 



(a.) KrafheninicoffsHiftory of Kamtfchatka, by Grieve, p. g& 



