315 FOX. 
The general colour is a yellowish-red, or more 
properly yellow-brown, and on the forehead, 
shoulders, hind part of the back as far as the be- 
ginning of the tail, and outside of the hind legs, 
it is a little mixed with white or ash-colour: the 
lips, cheeks, and throat, are white, and a stripe of 
the same colour runs along the under side of the 
legs : the breast and belly are ash-grey or whitish- 
grey : the tips of the ears and the feet are black : 
the tail extremely reddisli-yellow, mixed with a 
tinge of blackish, and internally brownish yellow- 
white, with a blackish cast; the tip itself milk- 
white. 
The Fox prepares for himself a convenient den 
or receptacle in which he lies concealed during 
the greater part of the day. This den is some- 
times said to be obtained by dispossessing the 
Badger of its hole, and appropriating it to his 
own purposes. It is so contrived as to afford the 
best security to the inhabitant, by being situated 
under hard ground, the roots of trees, &c. and is 
besides furnished with proper outlets through 
which he may escape in case of necessity. 
This care and dexterity in constructing himself 
a domicil, is by the Count de Buffon considered 
as alone sufficient to rank the Fox among the 
higher order of quadrupeds, since it implies no 
small degree of intelligence. 
The Fox knows how to ensure his safety, by 
providing himself with an asylum, to which he 
retires from pressing dangers, where he dwells, 
and where he brings up his young. He is not a 
