The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-05-01
The Children of The SOritO
By Ernest Harold Baynes.

n EADERS Of this series win doubt
h less remember the story Of THE
Sprite." the little red fox which
a year ago l took from its home in
burrow at T0psheld. Mass, and those
who attended some Of my lectures dur
ing the past winter viii scarcely have
forgotten the bright-eyed, sharp-nosed,
bUEhy-tailed little rascal which ap-
peared with me on the platform and
whose silky head they patted at the
close of the evening. tt may also be
remembered that. after his mate was
killed by the dogs i'm the falL another
mate was bought for him, and that
both foxes We're housed in a large wire
cage in the garden.
Before the cold weather came, I had
erected, ON the north and east sides OF
the cage. high WindbTeakS, which shell
tered the foxes from the biJterest of
the storms. In the lee Of these, q
wooden den was placed, with two COM
partments, one near the ground and the
other above it. At the other end Of the
cage, which caught the morning sum
light. a platform was built. about two
feet from the ground, that the animals
might lie and sun themselves, away
from the floor of the cage, as they
might lie on the top of a rock il they
were free in the woods But the den
they scarcely ever used to sleep in, eZ-
cept during severe storms of rain or
sleet: they preferred % lie out on the
bare platform even I'm the coolest
weather when the thermometer went
down To 20 degrees below zero or lower,
Before lying down they usually walked
around on the platform IN a very small
circle, curving the whole body inward,
aud then sinking down. already curted
up. the legs and face covered by fne
bushy brush. Thus they would lie,
often back to hack. even when the
heavy snow was falling, and several
times we have found them in the morn
ing with nothing but their black ear
tips prOJTuding above the snow. The
den they used chiefly as a play house
After chasing one another round the
cage, seemingly in a game of tag, one
of them would dart into the den. As
though that were home and the ~
en- would seldom pursue him into his
sanctuary. The vixen often Ieaped
into the upper compartment ana. com
ing TO the door. would paw her mate
playfully as he passed underneath AT
other times they would WTestla together
iu fun, and the one which was thrown
down would be gently cheWed, until 1t
- changed the subject by leaping 10 its
feet and reversed the order of things
I'm short. they lived happy care-fTee
lives. until a few days ago. when family
cares began 10 occupy them both,
on the 23d of March the vixen be-
came very restless. jumping IN and
out of both compartments of tae den
attempting 10 burrow out Ut the cage
ard often bowling piJeously SOME
times she WOULD run up o. THE
Sprite" and throw herself on her back
iu front of him. just as some dogs
viii do when they meet any one they
are pleased To- see, aE when they WISH
10 be petted. When any Of us went
near she dashed around the cage.
stopping now and then 10 Wag her
TAIL and expressing great delight i'm
the afternoon the boy who takes care
of the foxes went To rake out the cage
The vixen showed great dislike for
the rake, flying at 10 and biting IL saw
agely, and following it up as III moved
from place 20 place. When they were
fed at O'Clock neither of the foxes
ate the meat, nor did they bury any Of
TO- as they usually do They seemed to
take no interest in food. AT times the
[ vixen would leap into the upper COM
partmeut of the den. and scratch in
( the bedding OF leaves. once, while she
/ was there. a piece of cloth was held
out To her She took II iB her mouth
and drew DO I'm, and then smoothed it
OUT by poking and patting it With her
+ nose To- take out the humps. Then she
covered the cloth over with the leaves
which were in the noX, bat Tor some
reason the arrangement did uot suit
her. and she took the cloth in her
mouth and nung III out Of the den. She
continued restless and hoWled c0ntinu-
ously until well into the night
AT haIf-past the next morning when
we went out 90 see her she jumped out
of the den yawuing and stretching as
usual but without recognizing US in
the usual way. Then she grOwled.
dashed into the upper compartment Of
The den and soon reappeaTed with q
ueTIy-boFn cub in her mouth. She
dropped it on the ground. pushed il
with her nose. and then picked il uu
again and I'm great agitation carried &c
TO different parts Of the cage, as though
looking for a safe place to deposit a.
I When we went away she carried it
/ back into the den, where we eventual
( Is discovered. the whole family OF five
/ baby foxes And since then. whenever
disturbed. she would pick up one of
4. the little ones and carry it TO a new