THE RED FOX. 
■ j XCEPT in South America and 
p™ Australia, Foxes are distributed 
I over all the great con- 
'^""^^^■^^'tinents. There are known 
to be between twenty-five and thirty 
species. They differ from the dog 
family in the greater sharpness of the 
nose and the greater length and 
bushiness of the tail. 
The Red Fox of eastern North 
America is closely allied to the 
common Fox of Europe, and is 
regarded by many naturalists as only 
a variety of the common species, an 
opinion which is somewhat confirmed 
by the fact that no remains of the Red 
Fox have been found in the cave 
deposits, although remains of the 
Grey Fox have been. It is larger 
than the common Fox of Europe, the 
fur longer and softer, and the color 
more brilliant. It is said that it does 
not possess the wind of the English 
Fox. It runs for about a hundred 
yards with great swiftness, but its 
strength is exhausted in the first 
burst, and it is soon overtaken by a 
wolf or a mounted horseman. In 
Canada and the United States it is 
largely hunted for its valuable fur, 
many thousands of skins being 
annually exported. The Fox is 
exceedingly shy and difficult of 
approach, owing probably to the 
persistency with which it is hunted 
by the fur traders. Only the Red and 
Grey Foxes are hunted. There are 
several permanent colors of this species 
similar to those found in our Squirrels, 
the young presenting a variety of 
colors in the same litter. In Ohio and 
others of the middle states, Foxes are 
said to be hunted as follows : On an 
appointed day, the whole of the 
population of the neighborhood turn 
out and inclose as large a tract 
of country as possible, all hands 
leisurely advancing toward some 
point near the center of the circle; 
as they advance a great noise is 
made that the game may be driven 
before them. When the circle is 
quite small, and the Foxes are seen 
running about looking for an opening 
by which to escape, small boys are 
sent in with directions to catch the 
animals, a task which is not accom- 
plished without much exertion and 
perhaps a few bites. When a Fox is 
caught, it is sold to pay the expenses 
of the hunt. 
Fox hunting as practised in England 
was transported to this country as 
early as the middle of the eighteenth 
century. In the mother country it is 
one of the greatest pleasures accorded 
to the titled gentry; the Horses are 
bred for the purpose, and a first-class 
hunter commands a large price. Many 
Virginia planters of leisure and means 
were accustomed before the Civil War 
to keep a number of Hounds, and with 
the best riders of the neighboring 
county, frequently held their "meets," 
when, with horn and whipper-in, and 
all other accompaniments, according 
to true English Fox-hunting rules, 
they would start Reynard and follow 
him to the death. The wealthy and 
leisure class of New York pursue the 
sport in true English style in many 
places on Long Island. 
When pursued, the Fox gives out a 
strong, disagreeable scent, which lies 
so long on the ground that it may be 
perceived for nearly an hour after he 
has passed. Of its cunning when 
pursued, many tales are related, such 
as driving another Fox out of its lair , 
and forcing it to substitute itself as 
the chase ; diving into a heap of 
manure, to throw the dogs off the 
scent ; fording streams, doubling or 
its track, and so forth. 
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