ORDER OF CARNIVORA. 
391 
Raying robbed her, and probably tbe discussion was only ter- 
minated by a quarrel. 
On tbe next market day tbe same larceny was committed. It 
was believed to be tbe waggish trick of some urcbin in tbe 
neighbourhood, and some suspicion was even attached to tbe 
young clerks of tbe sheriff, who occupied tbe ground- floor of 
tbe bouse. 
At tbe succeeding market a watcher was placed before tbe 
dealer, to observe what went on around ber ; but this person saw 
nothing, although one half tbe number of broken eggs disappeared. 
Tbe case became serious. Tbe dealer then bethought herself 
of depositing ber property beneath ber petticoat, between ber 
feet, certain that there they would be in safety. But tbe eggs 
again vanished. As a matter of course all was attributed to 
witchcraft. 
It was not long after this when tbe truth was discovered. Tbe 
druggist’s Fox was found squatted in tbe ventilators, and where 
no one could ever have believed it possible tbe beast could intro- 
duce itself, so narrow were tbe openings. As soon as an egg 
was laid on tbe ground, it pushed up its bead, seized it and with- 
drew. This operation it could perform with perfect security, 
concealed as it was not only by tbe feet and tbe petticoats of tbe 
dealer, but also by tbe panniers that lay around. 
One of tbe most frequent stratagems of tbe Fox, and which 
denotes an extraordinary amount of intelligence, consists in 
simulating death when surprised by tbe hunters, and there is no 
hope of safety by flight. It may then be handled, kicked 
about in every direction, even lifted by tbe tail, bung up in tbe 
air, or carried thrown over one’s shoulder, without showing 
tbe slightest sign of vitality. But as soon as released, and 
opportunity for escape offers, it will decamp with all baste, to tbe 
great amazement of those so cleverly duped. 
Tbe Fox most frequently inhabits a burrow or “ earth,” which 
it excavates among stones, rocks, or under tbe trunk of a tree, at 
tbe edge of a wood ; at other times it digs its subterraneous retreat 
on cultivated land ; always it is careful to have it on an elevated 
slope, so as to be protected against rain and inundations. 
At times it appropriates tbe burrow of a Babbit or Badger, and 
rearranges it to suit itself. In tbe first case, it simply throttles 
