The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-15
MORE ABOUT FOXES.
They Never Fly for Refuge to Their
Dens if They Can Avoid It.

From the Boston Transcript.
/ Some further interesting facts concern
ing the West Gloucester foxes come by
! way of another note from sc G. D." Of
that place to his friend in Brookline:
when the dog gets on the track Of the
/ fox and begins TO worry him in a leisurely,
/ but continuous pursuit" he says, 'one
[ would suppose that the fox would natur-
ally betake. himself to his den, which is
usually in some ledge Of rocks, inaccessi-
/ bic TO any but those of his own kith and
kin. But this is precisely what he
dosen't do He starts off in different
direction from that which would take
him home, and will never 20 to his lair
when pursued except in case Of extreme
necessity. If wounded, or if he gets
completely tired out after chase Of two
or three days, as sometimes happens. he
will reluctantly retreat TO his den. The
foxes in this vicinity usually have but one
route which they take when the dogs are
after them. This way leads over old
Meeting House Hill, Willoughby Park
across COffins Beach, around the Loaf
and sand dunes, and then back again, re-
versing the course, to the woods and
lodges, making this circuit several times
within twenty-four hours, if pursued.
Occasionally the fox makes a side trip to
Russ Island, in Squam river in this
popularity lies Reynard's greatest dan
ger The hunters know his habitual
route, lie in wait for him at advan tageous
points, and bring him down with shot or
bullet
zone of my neighb Ors was owner of a
swift-running dog, which would follow
fox not by scent, but upon sight. This
neigh Dor, hearing the beagles working a
&. IL hi 81
his dog by the leash, stationed himself
upon ledge near the top of Slough Hill,
and waited for the fox to appear, which
he did very suddenly. With no loss of
time he released the dog and fired, roll
ing the fox over; but before the dog could
reach him the fox regained his feet and
was away like a fash, leaving a trail of
Of blood upon the snow, the dog in pur-
suit. Con vinced that he would make for
his den, being badly wounded, the
hunter concluded to follow him and see
where ne lived when at home. After
travelling about mile through the woods
he met his dog returning; but the hunter
kept on, following the tracks and trail of
blood, and finally located the fox in a
ledge of rocks TO the westward of the
road leading from Essex to Manchester
about three miles in an air line from the
place where he was wounded. He may
De there still for aught this correspond
ent knows to the contrary, recuperating
at home for further trials and triumphs
dogs, too, are as wonderful in their
way as the fox. Should fox step ever
so lightly upon the ground or snow, and
touch his nose upon the spot, good dog
is sure 10 take the scent and, in the most
leisurely manner follow up.the trail bay
ing occasionally as he reRains the scent
after having for a moment lost it. He is
often gone two or three days at a time be-
fore he gives up the pursuit, and reaches
home at length so jaded and hungry that
he will scarcely move for days, groaning
all the while as if in pain. Dogs never
seem to be in hurry while on their hunt
ing tramps. and it is doubtful whether
they would touch a fox if they should
come up with one, which they seldom or
never do unless the fox is seriously
wounded. Their part in the hunt is only
! to find the fox, not to kill or fight him
| indeed, have heard it said that the
diminutive beagle dog would stand only a
very poor show in contest with a fox
such one, for instance, as was described
in a former letter"