The Litchfield County post., 1827-11-22

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ding place. and saIlies forth search of prey, only
during the Obscurity of twilight and the darkness Of
the night Guided with equal certainty by the sense
of smelling of sight, he glides along the trenches
Of the field to surprise the partridge on her nest
the hare within her form. Sometimes he will lie in
ambush near the burrows of rabbits, into which he
occasionally penetrates, and sometimes with the cry Of
dog, he gives chase to those animals IN the open
plain. When game of this description fails, he will
subsst ield-mce frogs, snails, and grass
hoppers. In cultivated and we-inhabited countries
the fox finds new resources. He approaches the hab-
ations to collect the refuse OF provision thrown out
of kitchens, &C. He penetrates into poultry yards
where he makes terrible devastation; and in autumn
he will the vineyards and feed upon the grapes,
which fatten him, and diminish in some degree the
dsagI cable odour of his flesh But he does not Inn
it himself to the quantity of food necessary to appease
the hunger of the moment. Instinct leads him where
there is abundance of prey to lay provision for the
future. When he invades poultry yard he kills all
which he conceals in the neghbOurhood to retake at
more convenient opportunity.
This character of extreme prudence in the fox is
the main of his preservation 1t renders him
extremely difficult be destroyed taken. As soon
rs he has acquired little experience, he is not to be
deceived by the snares which are laid for him, and
from the moment he recognises them nothing, not e.
ven the severest pangs OF hunger can lHduce HIM to
approach them LIE Roi, in his letters upon animals,
informs that he has known fox to remain fifteen
days in lis subterraneous hole that he might not fall
INFO the snares with which he had been enVironed.
This timd prudence, however, completely disap-
pears in the female fox when she has young ones to
nurse and to defend. The maternal instinct which in
all species, the human not excepted, is probably the
strongest of all feelings eaces in the instance before
the specific character of the animal. There is
sentiment perfectly disinterested as this, none in
which the sacrifice of self is instantaneous and
! complete. The mother will not hesitate moment to
endure the utmost prvations to brave the most aPpa
ling danger, nay, to encounter the certainty OF death
for the preservation Of her infant offspring She that
but little before all genteness, shrinking mid
y, and fastidous delicacy, who could not bear the
winds of heaven to visit her face too roughly be-
comes on sudden bold fierce and resolute, mistaken
by all that is trying and unrevoted by all that is dis
gushing. The female fox watches necessarily over
her young, provides for all their with unwear-
ed assduty land exhibits audacity very foreign to
her general disposition against their most formidable
adversaries.
At times they are heard to utter very sharp yellings
which commence like the barking of dog, and end
in sound resembling the cry of a peacock. The fe-
male prepares bed for her younS with leaves and
hay. The cubs generally from five to eight in
number and born like dogs, covered with hair Il ha
wing the eyes shut.
As the vicinity of the fox is productive Of nothing
but Inconvenience to man, and as its intelligence aug
ments his against DANGER the foX-chase has
always afforded a subj of occupation and amuse-
ment to great landed proprietors Many crowned
heads, both in own and foreign countries, have
been passonately devoted to this sport. Among 9TH
ers, Louis WILL of France gave to this species of hun
ting preference all other and even brought to
perfection the employing the hound instead of the ter
rier, which last previously to this time, had been can
stanty used for this purpose This piece of nforma
ton derive from Robert de Sanove, Lieutenant to
the chase to that royal lump Of imbecity.
At about three four months old, the young foxes
quit their burrow They abandon their parents with
all convenient speed, and at two years of age their
growth is completed.