The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-25
A TAME
II FOX II
A NATURAL HISTORY STUDY
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grown chickens. which scattered like skit-
ties before a ''ten-strike." But they were
not quick enough for the fox. who had one
Of them in his teeth even as 1 came up with
him. My presence did not discomfort him in
the least, either; he kept his presence of
mind. in spite OF my shouts and the noisy
cackling of the hens. OF course. he lodged
me; but even as he did so, his mind was
strictly on the business in hand. He glanced
quickly about, as much as to say, Are
there any more around here while I'm at it ?
yes. here's one" and before could turn
he had another victim. and away he dashed
with the two in his mouth. Back he went
into my garden, and round to his own pen.
where he stopped long enough to bite the
chickens till he was sure they were dead.
He dropped them as / came up. and at once
gave his attention to full-grown hen which
happened to catch his eye at that moment.
At the first rush he had her by the wing.
and had 1 not had reinforcements from the
house, that hen would never have answered
rOll-call again. A still further incentive to
keep at it, was the sight of the owner of
the chickens, who, with a pipe in his mouth
and noncommittal look upon his face.
stood on the wall and viewed the hunt I ran
as / had never run in any country
race, and now I overlook the fox, handi-
capped as he was with the hen. But he I'M
derstood the situation quite as we'll as 1
did, and, dropping the fowl, shook his thick
brush at me, as in derision, and was at once
in full pursuit OF another hen. Just then
Mrs. Baynes appeared upon the scene, and
when 1.-The sprite" will yield TO no one else.
he will to her. At her call he turned, and up
to her he ran. wagging his bushy tail and
smiling only fox can smile. He in
her arms in moment, and a minute later
was back in his cage. with the vixen sniff
ing at his muzzle to find out what he'd had
to eat. And all my neighbors said, was: "It's
all right; accidents will happen in the best
regulated families"
After this all went well with the foxes I'M
til about three weeks ago. when was called
away from home, and left an assistant in
charge of the animals. Two nights later, my
neighbours wife called to say that our foxes
were in her yard. Mrs. Baynes went over,
and in the dim light saw the forms of both
foxes on top of the henhouse. the roof of
which was low enough for them to jump
upon. She called 1.-THE Sprite,' and he fol-
lowed her back home without giving the
least trouble, but when she returned for the
vixen the latter had run off into the woods.
Later. the little creature tried to come back.
but pack of dogs drove her into the woods
again. For three nights she attempted to
return, and each night she answered 1.-THE
Sprite" who called for her in his loneliness.
But the third night the hounds got her
somehow, and it was all over before any
one could interfere
THE Sprite," until now so light-hearted
and happy, was almost heart-broken. Night
after night, he howled necessarily, and he
cared little for his food. So genuine was his
grief. that we got another mate for him.
She arrived yesterday, and last night. for
the first time since his bereavement, he did
not sadden us with his pitiful bowls. He
does not show the same affection for the
new love as he did for the old; but then.
they have scarcely had time to become ac-
quainted.