FOX. 
271 
and, with their cries ’and notes of hostility, ap~ 
prize all other animals to beware ; a caution 
which they perfectly understand, and put int($ 
practice. The* hunters themselves are often in- 
formed by the birds of the place of his retreat, 
and set the dogs into those thickets where they 
see them particularly noisy and querulous. So 
that it is the fate of this petty plunderer to be de- 
tested by every rank of animals ; all the weaker 
classes shun, and all the stronger pursue him. 
The fox, of all wild animals, is most subject to 
the influence of climate ; and there are found as 
many varieties in this kind almost as in any of the 
domestic animals. The generality of foxes, as is 
well known, are red ; but there are some, though 
not in England, of a greyish cast ; and M. Buffon 
-asserts, that the tip of the tail in all foxes is white ; 
which, however, is not so in those of this country. 
There are only three varieties of this animal in 
Great Britain, and these are rather established 
upon a difference of size than of colour or form. 
The grey-hound fox is the largest, tallest^ and 
boldest ; and [will attack a grown sheep. The 
mastiff fox is less, but more strongly built. The 
cur fox is the least and most common ; he lurks 
about hedges and out-houses, and is the most 
. pernicious of the three to the peasant and the 
farmer. 
Of all animals, the fox has the most significant 
eye ; by which is expressed every passion of love, 
fear, hatred, &c. He is remarkably playful ; but, 
like all savage creatures half reclaimed, will, on the 
least offence, bite even those with whom he is most 
familiar. He is never to be fully tamed. He lan- 
guishes when deprived of liberty ; and if kept too 
long in a domestic state, he dies of melancholy. 
When abroad, he is often seen to amuse himself 
with his fine bushy tail, running sometimes for a 
