TRAVELS IN ICELAND. 



107 



•iess found a number of partisans in an age so enlightened as our 

 own ; and what is still more singular, many celebrated naturalists 

 mention it in their writings : they say that this ice, and particu- 

 larly the large lumps from the glaciers, takes lire, and may 

 be used as fuel. We shall merely state, from our own expe- 

 rience, that this is false. The circumstance that gave rise to 

 this idea was, that a clear flame had been seen to come from the 

 ice ; and this happens sometimes in the vicinitv of Iceland, 

 where the probable cause has been discovered. It can only be 

 attributed to what we have already stated ; namely, to the lumps 

 of drifted wood which get between the ice, and take fire by 

 the great pressure and considerable friction they experience. 

 The ice may be seen at a distance, though the wood is imper- 

 ceptible ; and hence the idea has occurred, that it is the ice 

 which burns. 



FOXES. 



We have already spoken of the sagacity of this animal, and its 

 manner of procuring food ; but the additional tales which we 

 heard of it in this part, induce us to resume the subject. When 

 a fox perceives that his hole is discovered, he takes the first fa- 

 vourable opportunity to retire to another spot. The inhabitants 

 of the vicinity then take great pains in watching him night and 

 day, that they may kill him as he passes out, and destroy the 

 young in the hole. This animal abounds in the mountains, 

 where the inhabitants hunt him in winter. In summer he retires 

 to the rocks, to feed on birds and their eggs ; while in winter he 

 supports himself on the spawn of fish which he finds on the 

 .shore, as well as on muscles and other shell-fish. It is very sur- 

 prising that he also eats roots; particularly those of the A r undo 

 and the Angelica, which grow in the clefts and ridges of the 

 mountains. We think however that the foxes which feed on 

 these plants must be a different species from the others : the 

 people call them Gras-tofur. The shepherds are anxious to dis- 

 tinguish this kind, and to prevent their dogs from doing them 

 any harm. 



If what is related of the white fox in this part of the country 

 be true, his sagacity and instinct surpass every thing. He hunts 

 the white water-fowl of the largest species; and in order to catch 

 them, he waits till low water, when the bird returns fatigued 

 with searching for its prey, and perhaps loaded with food. 

 These fowl then collect in troops on a sand bank near the sea, to 

 repose and sleep. The fox takes advantage of this circumstance, 

 to creep in among them : but to gain them undiscovered, he 

 moves gently backwards with his tail erect; so that if the birds 

 should happen to wake, they perceive nothing" but the white tail 



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