86 



THE FOX. 



the rogue had considered the chances of another sleigh 

 coming along, before the hound, and obliterating the 

 trail entirely. 



Audubon relates of a certain fox, which, when started 

 by the hounds, always managed to elude them at a cer- 

 tain point. Finally the hunter concealed himself in the 

 locality, to discover, if possible, the trick. Presently 

 along came the fox, and making a leap to one side, ran 

 up the trunk of a fallen tree which had lodged some 

 feet from the ground, and concealed himself in the 

 top. In a few minutes the hounds came up, and in 

 their eagerness passed some distance beyond the point, 

 and then went still further, looking for the lost trail. 

 Then the fox hastened down, and, taking his back- 

 track, fooled the dogs completely. 



I was told of a silver-gray fox in northern New York, 

 which, when pursued by the hounds, would run till it 

 had hunted up another fox, or the fresh trail of one, 

 when it would so manoeuvre that the hound would 

 invariably be switched off on the second track. 



In cold, dry weather the fox will sometimes elude the 

 hound, at least delay him much, by taking to a bare, 

 plowed field. The hard dry earth seems not to retain a 

 particle of the scent, and the hound gives a loud, long, 

 peculiar bark, to signify he has trouble. It is now his 

 turn to show his wit, which he often does by passing 

 completely around the field, and resuming the trail 

 again where it crosses the fence or a strip of snow. 



The fact that any dry, hard surface is unfavorable to 



