CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDEE 5. CARNIVOEA. 
239 
" Though the cunuhig of the fox is proverbial, this is not the only remarkable quality by which 
he is characterized ; he is also bold and resolute, particularly when a supply of food has to be 
provided for a litter of cxihs. He possesses, besides, those enduring qualities that will carry him 
through a chase of some forty or fifty miles, right ahead, across every description of countr}/- — low 
grounds and commons, fallows and pastures, woods and plantations ; and although, during the 
progress of the run, he is remarkably crafty, and will avail himself of every means to elude the 
vigilance of his determined pursuers, yet, even when defeated, he dies game to the very last. 
"Lnagine yourself placed, as the hounds are drawing the cover, in a stubble-field, immediately 
adjoining the wood where the earths are situated. Eeynard, pursued by a stanch and true pack 
of well-bred and w^ell-managed hounds, has threaded its most intricate mazes — doirbled and 
redoubled, crossed and recrossed — for the purpose of puzzling his numerous enemies. But check 
after check follows, and he is at length forced to break cover, which he does very reluctantly. 
reaching the stubble-field, just mentioned, he will pause for a moment to listen, taking breath 
at the same time. His brush is draggled in the dew, and his coat is also Avet and discolored. He 
turns his sharp nose toward the cover, Avith his ears pricked up to catch the sound of the 
approach of danger. One fore-foot is elevated; and there he stands, a perfect picture for the 
skillful and truth-delineating artist. He soon finds that his host of enemies are on the scent; he 
hears the voice of the huntsmen, the cry of the pack, the cracking of the knotted cord, and that 
indescribable roar wdiich is peculiar to the chase, with the shrill words of the manager of the 
pack, < Yoicks, my hounds ! Athim, Eover! Yoicks, my pets ! Yoicks ! Yoicks!' waving his 
cap, and encouraging them onward. At the same time, the whips in the distance vociferate, 
' Broke cover 1 Gone away ! Gone away !' Hearing all this, and perfectly understanding its 
motive, Reynard plncks up additional spirit and resolution, and flics at an accelerated speed, to 
reach a distant earth, or some well-knowar place of refuge and safety, perhaps to leave his home 
forever, and wnth the certainty of a desperate chase. 
"Nor is the fox the least dexterous in securing his prey. Like the badger, he leaves the 
earths generally about ten or eleven o'clock at night, unless the state of the w^eather be extremely 
unfavorable, and then he prudently stops at home. His sharp bark about midnight indicates his 
whereabout. He visits farmyards and homesteads, henroosts, and other out-buildings, containing 
ducks, geese, and turkeys, making, wdien he can accomplish an entrance, sad havoc among every 
description of these inhabitants of the farm premises. An instance of the cunning of the fox in 
his forays occurred a short time ago, and should be related here. A neighbor of ours possessed 
a large number of fine turkeys, wdiich usually roosted in the branches of some tall Scotch firs, 
immediately adjoining the farmyard; Reynard had an eye on them, and made several visits 
during the moonlight nights unsuccessfully. They were perched too high for him to reach them, 
and therefore he was obliged to resort to stratagem, for stratagem is the fox's stalking-horse. 
"Now, how was this to be practiced? AVell, he first scratched the ground beneath the tree 
with his fore-feet, and then the base of the tree itself, in order to draw their attention ; at the 
same time looking up to mark every movement. He then ran round the tree in rapid rings. 
The turkeys, aware of their danger, followed his quick movements with their eyes, and became 
confused and dizzy. One fine bird fell plump npon the ground, and was instantly killed, accord- 
ing to the authority of the shepherd, who was watching the proceedings. The "like scheme w^as 
repeated, and down came another, wdiich shared the same fate. Both w^ere borne ofi:' to the 
earths. The loss of turkey after turkey induced the farmer to watch in ambush, and the truth 
of this stratagem was fully established. But the cunning animal paid the forfeit of his own life, 
for he was shot dead w^hile decamping with his last booty. 
"The fox will travel a long distance in search of food ; but, like a true general, never when he 
can levy his contributions near home. Thus, also, if the estate in which he is located abounds 
with game, his visits to the homestead will be of less frequent occurrence, nor will he attack 
hares, if there be an abundant supply of rabbits. When, however, this is not the case, he will, 
even in the day-time, seize the hen pheasant, or partridge, upon their nests, as well as the hare 
upon her ' form,' notwithstanding the alarm created by the crows, which are constantly upon the 
watch, and have a particular eye to his movements. The fox is thus the means of causing very 
