THE RED FOX. 
Like the Squirrels, Foxes vary- 
in size and color according to 
the countries in which they 
live. Their habits are mostly 
nocturnal, that is to say, they 
prowl around after dark. 
By day the Fox lies concealed 
in his burrow — if he owns a 
house of that sort— or else in the 
depths of some thicket. Toward 
evening he goes out in search of 
something to eat — Hare, Rabbit, 
Pheasant, Mouse, or Bird. 
Reynard, as the Fox is often 
called, does not attempt to chase 
the Hare, for it would be too 
swift for him, nor the Rabbit, 
for it would quickly dive into 
its hole, nor the Pheasant, for it 
would fly away. No, indeed! 
Mr. Fox is too cunning for that. 
He just quietly creeps to some 
place where Hares or Rabbits 
or Pheasants are likely to pass, 
and then as they run by him, 
out he pounces and secures his 
evening meal. 
When the Rabbit has a nest 
full of little " Bunnies," she 
takes good care to keep them at 
the end of the burrow. It is too 
small for the Fox to creep into, 
so she thinks they are safe. But 
Mr. Fox finds a way, a much 
better way, he thinks, to get at 
the little, soft, furry things, 
which will hardly make him a 
meal anyway. He sniffs around, 
locates the spot right above the 
the burrow, digs downward, and 
soon — well, when he gets through 
there are no " Bunnies" in the 
nest. Mr. Fox smiles, winks 
one eye, and trots off. 
Sometimes he steals into a 
hen-roost, and woe to nearly every 
chicken in the roost. He eats 
all he can, carries some of them 
home, and the remainder he 
buries for future use. 
"Cunning as a Fox." That 
is an old saying, you know, and 
we apply it to persons who take 
advantage of heir fellow beings. 
However, no matter how great 
a rascal the Fox is, we must pity 
him when pursued for " sport" 
by a pack of hounds, as well 
as men and women. When 
irritated or alarmed, the Fox 
gives off a strong, disagreeable 
scent, which lies so long on the 
ground that it may be perceived 
for nearly an hour after he has 
passed. He has been known to 
dive into a heap of manure to 
throw the dogs off the scent; 
jumping over a wall, run a little 
way, come back again, lie under 
the wall until all the dogs had 
passed, then leap a second time 
over the same place where he 
had passed before, and make off 
on his old track. 
P 25 1932 
6q 
