THE ADVENTURES OF A YOUNG NATURALIST 133 



got into the most inextricable thickets. As the time wore 

 on, I began to think we had passed the place ; and, as is 

 often the case in similar circumstances, opinions were di- 

 vided. A fox, which appeared within gunshot, interrupted 

 our discussion. I fired, and the animal fell. It was a mag- 

 nificent specimen, and exactly like its European confrere. 

 By a singular chance, at the very moment it was expiring, a 

 crow just above our heads uttered a loud croaking. 



" There ! the crow is thanking us for having rid him of 

 his enemy, the fox," said Sumichrast to Lucien. 



The boy laughed, heartily at this joke. In spite of our 

 advice, PEncuerado would insist upon skinning the animal, 

 whose pelt he wished to preserve. Fortunately, he was 

 very quick at such an operation, and the beautiful fur was 

 soon hanging over his arm, ready to be stretched outside 

 his basket to dry. 



" I hope," said Sumichrast to Lucien, " that you have al- 

 ready recognized the fox's relationship." 



u Oh yes ! in its color and shape it is like the cayotte" 



" You are quite right, but the cayotte and the fox are 

 both Gringalet's cousins." 



" I can scarcely believe that, for Gringalet has short hair, 

 is spotted with black and white, has gray eyes — " 



" Those are only secondary characteristics," interrupted 

 Sumichrast. " Gringalet belongs to the carnivorous type, 

 called by naturalists Digitigrades" 



" Is Gringalet a digitigrade ?" asked Lucien, smiling. 



" Yes, certainly ; that is to say, he walks on his toes, and 

 not on the sole of his feet, exactly like the fox, whose teeth, 

 also, are perfectly similar to those of Gringalet. The prin- 

 cipal difference between them is, that the fox has eyes 

 which are formed so as to enable it to see in the dark, a 

 quality which Gringalet does not possess in the same de- 

 gree." 



