THE STORY OF THE FOX. 
Fox-hunting is a common but exciting sport in both England and 
America. Both the red and the gray fox leave a trail that is easily fol¬ 
lowed by the hounds. The well-known scent of the fox is secreted as it 
runs and is easily detected by the human as well as the canine nose. There 
is no doubt that the natural cunning of the fox has been greatly increased 
by long experience in matching its wits against dogs and hunters, for in 
countries where the fox is not hunted it is far less cunning than either the 
gray or red fox of America and England. 
The reds are bolder in pursuit, and hunt over a much greater territory 
than the grays. Whether the grays ever climb trees in pursuit of prey I 
am uncertain, but they take to a tree as readily as a cat when run hard by 
hounds. I think it nearly certain that they climb for persimmons and 
grapes. Red foxes never climb trees under any circumstances; when hard 
run they go to earth. Gray foxes run before hounds only a short distance, 
doubling constantly and for a short time, when they either hole in a tree, 
or climb one. I have known the red fox to run straight away nearly 
twenty miles. Very commonly they run eight or ten miles away, and 
then run back in a parallel course. I have known them to run the four 
sides of a square. It is doubtful whether a first-rate specimen of the red 
fox, taken at his best in point of condition, can either be killed or run to 
earth by any pack of hounds living, such are his matchless speed and en- 
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