The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1902-06-14
THE GRAY FOX.
Personality and Habits OF the DAr-
ing Freebooter OF New
ENGLAND.

Up in the northwest corner Of Con-
necticut Is tract of country that
might well be called "the White Noun
tains of Southern New England"
From the valley Of the Housatonic
river there are almost sheer activities
of upwards Of 1000 feet. and one may
find almost any sort Of picturesque
ness that is desired--precipices noun
tain torrents. ice gorges. trout brooks,
forests, swamps and yistas of winding
river with the splendid hills as back
ground. Here, within two or three
hours ride OF New York city, various
wild mammals still continue in goodly
number. Foxes and wildcats wage war
on farmers SAickens, and in their turn
are outwitted by the trapper, along
with minks, raccoons, skunks and &C.
casionally an otter.
Doubtless, the red fox has always
abounded, but 1t was only 20 years ago
according to expert trapper testi-
mony-that the gray fox began to
poke his grizzled nose into this pre-
empted territory. He liked it and the
flavor of Connecticut chickens so, al
though naturally of southern predilec-
tions, he has made himself thorough
Iy at home, and is now nearly as nu-
merous as his red cousin, says writer
in Country Life in America.
Judging by mere appearances. one
would incline to believe that nearly all
the foxes of the region are now grays,
| for the gray is given to appearance"
after the boldest fashion, seeming to
court publicity, while the red has a
far greater dread Of man, and care
fully holds himself aloof. Last fall
there was sudden epidemic of chick
en- killing in the yards of the resi-
dences along the main street of the vii
lage of Kent. About dusk there would |
arise a clamor from some roost or |
coop. The family would dash out to
see dim gray form bound lightly
over the fence, and find, next morn
ing. the remains of the victim only
few rods away in some field of
corn or tobacco. So bold did he
grow that he would rush the hens
by daylight before the owners very
eyes. Soon the whole neighborhood
was "laying" for him. One night he
put his foot into one of my traps,
but when examined it in the morn
ing, only few gray hairs were left
tiers became rather warm for him.
and he evidently decided to bestow
his attentions elsewhere. This pro-
ceeding is characteristic of the gray
fox. No red would dream of dar-
ing such impertineDce. But the
gray, if he takes the notion. will
trot boldly up to house in broad
daylight, trusting TO his legs to
speed him safely on his way in case
his appetite receives checkmate.
Late in March or early In April the
young grays come into the world
in the hillside cavern or burrow, and
in due time learn to spread conster-
nation among the humber creatures
around them. wild and domestic.
They like woods. rocks and hills.
The red fox inhabits prairie or open
country, as well as the woods, in
some parts of his habitat, but the
gray would pine amid such barren
ness. Hence the species is often
known as the wood gray" in recog-
milton of these tastes and habits
The further careers of our young
grays, however, illustrates the truth
that fear, after all, may be whole
some thing. 1t is better to lose fat
than life. Even foxcraft cannot
match that of man. Man sets his
wits to work; the red fox loses fat,
put many gray his pelt. Gray can
-un fast enough to get to his hole
when the dog barks, but not when
he trap snaps. If he had a little
more of the grace of reverence in his
it would be better for him. So,
or every red that is caught, the
rapper gets dozen grays, in this
ocality.