The following story, narrated to me by an old woodman, also illustrates their cunning. Two Foxes, located in a neighborhood where Hares abounded, adopted an ingenious plan for capturing them. One of them lay in ambush on the side of a road; the other started the quarry and pursued it with ardor, with the object of driving the game into the road guarded by his associate. From time to time, by an occasional bark, the associate in ambush was notified how the chase was succeeding. When a Hare was driven into the road it was immediately pounced on, and both Foxes devoured it in thorough good fellowship. Nevertheless, it sometimes happened that the Fox who kept watch miscalculated his spring, and the Hare escaped. When, as though puzzled at his want of skill, he resumed his post, jumped on to the road, and several times repeated the movement. His comrade arriving in the middle of this exercise, was not slow to comprehend its meaning, and irritated at being fatigued to no purpose, chastised his clumsy associate; but a tussle of a few minutes sufficed to expend the bad humor, and they were ready to try again.
The adult Fox is also assisted by its young in procuring food when they become old enough. Some observers say that these family excursions are undertaken for the education of the cubs. When on a hunt to obtain aquatic Birds, among the reeds and rushes that margin the borders of lakes and rivers, Foxes always proceed with extreme caution, and take especial care not to become unnecessarily wet.
One of the most frequent tricks of the Fox, and which shows an unusual amount of intelligence, consists in simulating death when surprised by the hunters, and there is no hope of safety by flight. It may then be handled, kicked about in every direction, even lifted by the tail, hung up in the air, or carried thrown over one’s shoulder, without showing the slightest sign of life. But as soon as released, and opportunity for escape offers, it will hurry away to the great amazement of those so cleverly fooled.
The Fox most frequently inhabits a burrow or “earth,” which it excavates among stones, rocks, or under the trunk of a tree, at the edge of a wood; at other times it digs its subterraneous retreat on cultivated land; always it is careful to have it on an elevated slope, so as to be protected against rain and inundations.
At times it appropriates the burrow of a Rabbit or Badger, and re-arranges it to suit itself.
Its dwelling it divides into three parts: The first part is the place from whence it examines the neighborhood before coming out, and from where it watches for a favorable moment to escape its persecutors, when pursuit has driven it home. Then comes the store-room, a place with several outlets, where the provisions are stored away. Lastly, behind the store-room, quite at the bottom of the burrow, is the den, the sleeping chamber and real habitation of the animal. The Fox seldom regularly inhabits its burrow, except when rearing young. After that period it generally sleeps in a cover, near a spot where it thinks plunder is to be had, sometimes at a distance from its burrow.
THE WEASEL FAMILY.
WEASELS AND ERMINES.
The Weasels and their many small relatives—the Ermines, Martens, Otters and many others—are usually classed with the Dog and Cat families and the Civets and Hyenas, under the second great division of the flesh-eating animals or those that walk on their toes; known as the Digitigrade Carnivora.