Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-07-20

The fox is of all animals the most cunning,
In the nobcr quality OF sagacity, he is per-
haps Inferior to his relatives, the dog, or the
elephant; but both OF these must yield the
palm to him in that peculiar trait which We
call cunning. This is not always a bad quail
ity for it is frequently employed to de.eat
evil intentions, and oftcner still for mere
amusement; but it is seldom that cunning
may be ranked with the virtues. We say of
man who resorts to all manners of tricks
to secure his objects-that he is willy, or that
he is as "cunning as fox"
The fox is one of the most abundant of
the four-;ootcd animals He is found in nearly
every part G. the globe, and wears coats of
different colors in different localities. Some
times he appears in a suit of glossy black
again he is found in red coat, yellow
jacket, Or Il grey mantle; while III far north
ofn regions, he dons "A robe of white, as if he
were the most innocent creature in the world.
He is not easily tanned, and hence there is
not half so many entertaining stories told
about him, as there are about more domestic
animals. He loves his freedom too well, aud
is too fond of committing deprclations
among the poultry, to be content TO be petted
in the house. Nor would he be Il very agree
able companion, although it must be allowed
that he is not an Unlocking fellow with his
soft, grey or reddish coat, his bright eye, and
his hushy tail.
He is very rapacious, constantly seeking
what he may dcyour, and seldom disdaiuing
anything III the shape OF fish, flesh, or fowl,
which he can lay his paws on. He is fond
Of rabbits-cpicure that he is and displays
his cunning in the manner in which he takes
them prisoners. Instead of entering the
hole which leads to their hurrowing place, he
saves himself the trouble of digging his way
along, by seeming the track Of the rabbit
above the ground till he reaches the spot where
it hides, when he digs down and falls upon
his victim suddenly. a
The fox is very fond of grapes, and 10 the
fables of IEsop there is Il familiar story Of
one who came one day to vine hanging full
Of delicious looking fruit. The fox made
great exertions to reach them, but finding il
i'm possibie, he consoed himself by saying that
they were miserable sour things, and not worth
having. 1t has become, from this fable, quite
proverb, when thing is beyond our reach, ITO Il
say, "the grapes are sour" "
There is another story, Of equal truth told
of this animal. One day, IL fox, who was
distinguished among his fellows by the size o.
his thrush ia name given by hunters to his
bushy tail) was so unfortunate as to fall into
trap, from which he contrivcd to escape
with sad loss, however, the loss OF his tail
The cunning rascal, while he was deploring
his mis- ortunes, conceived of a plan to make
it turn out to his credit. He was an inhuen.
tial fox, and he resolved to try what cloquenct
could do among his fellows. So, after some
- days Of conce lmcht hemade his appearance
among his tribe, and reported that he hac
been abroad where, he said, the fashion wa,
to wear no tails, and he earnestly counsellec
his brethren to adopt the same fashion as h,
had already done! But the cunning OF one
was not match for the cunning Of many
who loudly protested that they did not ap
prove the fashion, and did not believe tha
their brother would do so, if he had not frs
lost his tail in trap! M
> A naturalist relates that fox lost one hi
fore feet in trap, and matte his escape
Some two years afterwards he was unearthc'
: by some dogs, but instead OF running. as j
usual with the hunted lox, he waited unit
each dog came up to him, and then jumpe,
suddenly over him. When he was take'
: after repeating this ruse several times, it wa
discovered that he had but three feet, ant
could not run we'll. -
. The same writer tellsSn anecdote Of anoth
CT. fox who wanted very much to secure
hare for his breakfast. He says that he say
him stealing along the edge of a wall at som
hares which were feeding there. He was to-
:, cunning to give them chhse, for he knew iha
Y they would escape him in fight; 50 heresolye
TO try stratagem. He stretched himself GU
-, at fhllslength, cose,to u gapin the wall whic
: one Or more of the hares might pass on leay