The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-21

Have seen d lot OF funny things In
the woods when / didn't have a gun,
but an exhibit in the domestic life Of
fox family and Of fox cunning that
/ once was favored with | regard as
heading the list.
i had been looking over some tim
Der prospects and mad sat down near
the bank Of "A creek alongside Of big
rock, to rest a while. On the oppu-
site side OF the stream. no more than
FIVE rods away, was high knoll. At
the foot Of that knoll ii tree had been
blown down by some oid-time high
wind. and by the fall the ground
loosened, showing tumbled mass of
earth and rocks and tagled roots.
Between the creek and the fallen
tree the space was carpeted with a
velVety stretch OF grass. AS | sat there
gazing listiessly about on the sur
roundings. | noticed by and by that
the soil and stones at one side OF the
fallen tree were packed hard and
worn smooth. indicating that some
thing was In the habit of going to and
fro there. and doubtless had a home
beneath the tsng1e Of roots. I was
on the point of getting up, crossing
the creek and investigating. when !
saw the nose and part of the head Of
an animal come cautiously out from
an opening among the roots, and l
sat still.
1t was plain that some animal was
making A precautionary inspection or
the surroundings That inspection
proving satisfactory, out from the
tumbled mass STEPPED fox boldly and
proudly. and at Its heels came three
little foxes.
The old fox. winkins in self-con-
tentment, sat down In the sunlight
that was streaming In that spot
through the treetops. while the cubs
played pitcn and toss with her long,
bushy tail. a frog which unwiseiy
yentured from the creek border 100
near the fox den had betrayed its
presence to the other cub. and that
pudgy little beast at once seized it
and began putting X TO all sorts Of
torment
| had not long TO wait for a new
thing on the program. for out of the
bushes at one side Of the knoll an
other Ok. the other head Of the fam
ily. came trotting on the scene, car
rying a rabbit in his mouth. Stopping
in the midst OF the family group this
fox tossed the rabbit in the air.
caught II again as 1t came down and
then placed II on the ground before
the eager cubs.
The two old foxes sat on their
launches and watched with evident
satisfaction and approval the cubs an
they rent the rabbit and devoured 4
The meal WAS soon over. and then
the whole family. old and young, ca
pered and frickled about on the grass
carpet in front of their home.
suddenly the father OF the family
stopped his play nd instantly the 9TH
eTs became quiet. With ears erect.
nose high in the air brush stretched
straight In line with his back fore
feet braced well In the front and hind
legs ready Tor start the fox FOR Il few
second stood motionless. Then he
gave low cry. and the three cubs
tum oied heiter SHELTER into the OPEN
ing among the roots and disappeared.
The cubs sally below. the old foxes
followed them down into the retreat
In little while the cause OF the
fox amily's alarm appeared A chop
per on his way home came along the
creek on that side, passed BY the knob
1T the very threshold OF the fox den
and went on his way
! waited long time then. with no
sign OF q temperance OF any mem
her of the family, and ] was thinking
Of moving on when I happened to turn
my head and glance up the creek.
Then another unusual sight was pre-
sented. In an open space near the
edge Of the water on the side of he
creek where | was and not more than
twenty-five feet away. a rufnea grouse
was scratching and pecking In the