The National tribune., 1889-12-12

certain amount OF what the men who speak
about his behavior call plunder and murder
Some writers have said that foxes have been
known to respect the livestock Of the estates
on which they lived, but for the most part
few extenuating traits arc ever urged in Rey-
Dard's behalf Probably the best way of get
ting such an imperfect acquaintance with his
character as Is alone possible would be 10 con-
trast the popular view of IL with reliable per-
sOnal observations Of those features which the
animal undoubtedly displays. In this manner
many common delusions would disappear, and
something more nearly approaching "A real fox
take the place Of the traditiOnary aud ideal crea-
ture. IL for example, We compare the European
and Arctic species, il will appear at once how
much the wariness Of the former is the result
Of adjustment to the conditions of existence,
and how little the animals sagacity in certain
respects is a natural endowment During tho
latter part OF the Summer. says HcaTne, foxes
from the north begin 10 make their way south
ward along the seacoast. They always come by
this route,
BECAUSE THE MEAss or SUBSISTENCE
arc more abundant there than in the interior.
The period at which they reach the trading
stations Of the Hudson Bay Co. is yet too early
for their coats 10 have become valuable aud
thus at the posts along the Churchill, where
Hcarnc's observations were made, the animals
arc never Inoiested Until November. During
the interval between their arrival and the time
when the fuT-hunter5 commence 10 trap aud
shoot them, they grow quite tame" feeding
about the settlements upon any refuse they can
pick mp. and evidently accust0ming themselves
TO the prOpinquIty oil man. whom these strangers
from the polar solitudes have not learned 10
fear, and with whose devices for their desirnc-
ton they are totally unacqnainted. "These
foxes" Goldman informs us are taken with
great facility IN traps. aud, unlike wolves, seem
TO have no idea Of the design Of such contri-
vances."
From their geographical position, these crea-
tures are forced into Omniyerous habits. They
belong 10 the carniyora but in the inhospit-
able regions where they live food is scarce aud
scareiy anything comes amiss; SO that when
marmots, Jennings, birds or birds eggs fail, aud
no fish oiial is at hand, Capt. Lyon las known
them 20 deyOur c0rdage aud rope yarn. Hearne
accuses them Of being complete canuibals and
asserts that they viii always eat their own
kind whenever they find a dead specimen Of it..
saying that in the course Of a single season he
has known over 120 trapped foxes 10 be de-
vOured by their fellows. According 10 Capt
Lyon the Arctic fox is an extremely cieany
animal" avoids dirty places, has no 0doT and
is too yiglant aud acute of hearing to be ap.
preached unawares. For the most part 10 Is
nocturnal ia its habits while residing south
ward among the settlements, aud runs mute in
hunting. DuTiug captivity the animal uttefs
"a short gr0wl when irritated, like that Of a
young puppy" aud this sound, Capt. Lyon
| says, has the curious property Of seeming TO be
at "A distance, even when tho fox is at ones feet.
He looked upon the phenomenon as AN express
sion Of yentrii0quisn, and supposed that il was
q trait acquired through natural selection by
which prey WAS deceived concerning the fox
| position.
When FIRST Gagged THE ARCTIC FOX
] is furious, bat Lyon states that il so rapidly
resigns itself 10 imprisonment as TO become
/ tame in few hours. This is, Of course, su.
/ pcrGcial judgment, and there is much more
probability in Hearne's opinion that il never
accustoms itself to confinement. As soon as
the creature receives any food it buTies il IN
the snow, If there is any, and smoothes over
| the surface with its nose. If no snow is nj
hand, IL may coil It's chain about the deposit
| and thus hide it. Capt. Lyon tells of dor
fox Of this kind on board ship who, seeing with
| dismay that his treasure was revealed every
time he moved off by the uncoiling of the
chain, was at last Obliged 10 eat il at once and
| without the great satisfaction Of having preyi.
Ousy concealed IL. Another peculiarity OF this
species is that it does not lick the surface of the
snow like most other animals, but satisfies IL
| thirst by making up little sno&-bal on the
end OF its nose, which il then draws into ia
mouth with the tongue.
There is very little ia the accounts that have