HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 281 



The Fox fleeps found •, and, like the Dog, lies in a 

 round form. When he is only repofmg himfelf, he 

 ftretches out his hind legs, and lies on his belly. In this 

 pofition he fpies the birds as they alight on the hedges 

 or places near him, and is ready to fpring upon fuch as 

 are within his reach. He rarely lies expofed, but chufes 

 the cover of fome thick brake, where he is pretty fecure 

 from being furprifed. — Crows, magpies, and other birds, 

 which confider the Fox as a common enemy, will often 

 give notice of his retreat by the mo ft clamorous notes, 

 and frequently follow him a confiderable way from tree 

 tojree, repeating their outcries. 



Foxes produce but once a year, from three to fix 

 young ones at a time. When the female is pregnant, 

 me retires, and feldom goes out of her hole, where (he 

 prepares a bed for her young. She comes in feafon in 

 the winter ; and young Foxes are found in the month of 

 April. If {he perceives that her habitation is difcovered, 

 fhe carries them off, one by one, to a more fecure retreat. 

 The young are brought forth blind, like puppies. They 

 grow eighteen months or two years, and live thirteen or 

 fourteen years. 



The Fox is frequently taken in traps but great cau- 

 tion mult be ufed to deceive this wily animal. The trap 

 muft be placed in the midftof a field, where there is nei- 

 ther hedge nor path near it, and fo nicely covered with 

 mould, that not the leaft veftige*can \>e feen where it 

 lies : About the trap, and at a fmall diftance from it, in 

 different places, a few pieces of cheefe, or other ftrong- 

 ly-fcented food, muft be carelefsly fcattered : Then with 

 a (heep's paunch, or fome other animal fubftance, a trail 

 is made, about a mile in length, to the different places 

 where the bait is laid, and from thence to the trap : The 



