The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1910-06-24

yards or so In the rear, although he
cannot see the fox, he knows of its
proximity by the warmth of the scent,
and he will then run In his eagerness
to overtake the quarry at the rate Of
Is or 20 miles an hour. Such n pace
is killing and 1t can be maintained but
short time.
Now would you believe IL? The
willy fox knows this well. So when ho
starts on race in which his mate is
to aid him he keeps but a short dis
lance ahead of the dogs. but sets a
killing pace.
He keeps this up for eight or ten
miles, gradually circling back 20 tho
starting point. His mate is there, in
the spot where he started from, all
ready and fresh to take up the run
the instant he comes bounding along,
while he leaps from the trail at right
angles and lies concealed in the ken.
mel
THE hounds keep right on after the
female fox, ignorant. of course. of the
trick the foxes are playing. She in turn
Is relieved by her mate, who starts In
as good as new. This run and rest of
the foxes is kept up without cessation.
SO that in two or three hours the dogs,
being kept at high speed, are exhaust.
ed and are forced to give up the chase
with yelpings of disappointment
AT this sound, well understood by
the foxes. the fox that hears 1t an
swers II with sharp, aggravnting,
hooking cries. have seen dogs sneak
home in humiliation and silence after
such defeat and hearing the gloating
of the fox over them. and have known
them to feel the disgrace of II SO that
they wouldn't go fox hunting again for
days.
Mind you. this is the red fox am
talking about. The gray fox is quite
another creature. The red fox Is the
beast that gives the fox family its
reputation for smartness. The gray
fox isn't anywhere near the size Of
the red and is a common and vulgar
beast.
1.-The red fox has an eye that can
glare with murderous rage, flashing
fire and vengeance, and he will fight
like a tiger when he has to. He
stalks his game, he gains II by Gun.
ming and stratagem. The gray fox has
the eye of sneak. He can't run more
than five hours before the dogs. and
when caught he turns on his back and
whines without resisting his captors.
He Is coward and lunkhead.
"The red fox will feign death like
the possum, and even the teeth of the
hounds and flash Of gunpowder have
failed to rouse him from simulated
death. A farmer at Sugar Loaf once
surprised red fox in his hen houses,
and the fox. unable to escape. fell on
the floor as II In the throes Of death
and apparently died from fright and
the effects Of Its gluttony. for a couple
Of the farmers chickens were inside
OF It.
1.-THE farmer, mad all the way
through, gave the stiifened body q few
vigorous kicks. and taking 1t by the tail
chucked 1t In no gentle manner out in
to the barnyard. The fox had no sooner
struck the ground than 1t gathered up
its legs and fed like the wind toward
the woods. leaving the farmer nothing
to do. when he could get over his as
constituent. but use some good strong
Sugar Loaf mountain language.
THE red fox likes fish and he knows
how to catch them. He is partial to
trout He knows where they Turk and
wary as they are. leap. a snap and
he has his fish. He Like green corn
and all kinds of fruit and he helps him.
self literally to them all. He viii
rob a beehive OF It's honey and eat
the bees. He has been known to kill
young calves and lambs.
"Tinid rabbits pick up their ears
and hop. unconscious Of danger. along
the old roads and in the grassy swales.
The quail stalks In the stubble. Birds
sing In the husband the sly red fox
eats 'em all. He will quickly throw
out the woodchuck's litter in its coy
burrow and II the burrow Is located "a
suit him will evict the parent wood.
chucks and take possession Of the bur.
row himself
The mother red fox feeds her
young faithfully and to help support
them win steal the food more boldly
than the father fox. A merry, devil
may-care life 1t is sure enough that
the red fox leads. II may or may not
be short life. for traps and snares
are many. hunters alert and the nose
Of the hound Is keen and his feet are
swift: but be that as It may he rol-
Hicks and ROSTERS and plays the bolA
freebooter with Il all"