62 
The Animal-Lore of Shakspeares Time. 
CHAPTER IY. 
The Fox is seldom mentioned as an animal of chase by 
Fox early writers. As rabbits were most abundant 
in all parts of England, foxes were probably 
numerous. Olaus Magnus (p. 193) informs us that in 
Scandinavia— 
“ There are in the Northerne woods foxes, white, black, red, crosse- 
bearers on the back, and others of a blew colour, spotted, but they all 
partake of the same malice and fraud; the black skins are dearest 
because the Emperours of Moscovie use these often; next are the 
crosse-bearing skins, that is, such as are marked on the back with a 
black crosse by nature, because they are more adorned, and the skins 
are greatest; for the foxes have not this crosse till the} 7, grow of a full 
age” 
The fox has always been considered the personifi¬ 
cation of craft and cunning. Edgar declares that he has 
been “ a hog in sloth, a fox in stealth, a wolf in greedi¬ 
ness ” (Lear, iii. 4, 195). Venus attempts to dissuade 
Adonis from his intention to pursue the boar:— 
“ But if thou needs wilt hunt, be ruled by me; 
Uncouple at the timorous flying hare, 
Or at the fox which lives by subtlety.” 
( Venus and Adonis , 1. 673.) 
The skin of a fox, hare, or rabbit was called its case. 
The Luke thus reproaches Viola for her supposed 
deception,— 
