Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-02-04
FOXES HAVE HOLES
Build Their Underground Homes With
Greatest Care.

greatest Sa:e.
In Logan's history of the upper
country of South Carolina, written by
John II. Logan. 4. M, of Greenwood,
and published in 1859, says the Char
lesion News and Courier, an exceed
ingly interesting account is given of
the manner in (which the red fox in
the up-country then constructed its
home in the open sedse fields. He
says:
but the Cen formed by this animal
is the most curious part of its his
tory; it is perhaps the most remark
able object connected at this time with
all the natural history of the upper
country. When ready to perform this
important work it is usual for two Or
three of them to unite, and having.
selected the spot that pleases them
which is generally at the edge of an
old field, and as convenient to water
as possible set to work with all
their force tunneling out the earth,
and shaping their course as they go
down at a considerable angle to the
horizon. The dirt, as they push it
out is heaped up at the mouth of the
hole, and becomes, after while, quite
q mound, sometimes several feet in
height.
AFTER they have delved in this
manner, usually for more than thirty
FIVE or forty feet sometimes ninety or
a hundred, they cease to tunnel, and
begin the less laborious work Of con-
structing their dormitories or sleep
ing rooms. These they arrange with
singular art. eXcavating them in re-
ceding galleries, so that, if we were to
view the bottom of the burrow, even
from the front, it would appear at
first sight to be entirely empty.
1.-The apartment destined for that
one of the company whose lot it is to
occupy the basement story. is elevated
like step some distance above the
main floor, and on this his bed of
caves and straw is carefully prepared.
At the same distance away, and
lirectly back Of it. the second room
is constructed and there the second
COX fixes his bed; and if there is still
another in the company a third dor
mitory is cXcavated in the same man
ner, in relation to the second. and
similar bed made upon it.
ut is obvious that several impnr-
ant advantages are gained by this
ingenious arrangement. 1t affords
them at all times n dry, warm berth;
it enables them, on any emergency
requiring it, to run all out together
with the greatest ease to themselves.
through their long tunnel; but chiefly.
in case of sudden invasion, from an
enemy; their galleries serve as so
many admirably constructed citade!s.
'nto which they can retreat in sue
,ession. with a powerful advantage. ut
the narrow entrance to each, over the
5oldest and most dangerous intruder
A den, similar to the one just de-
scribed was recently laid open on the
bank of Long Cane, by several nunt-
ars on that stream. 1t cost them
hard days work.
THAT security. when pressed by
their enemies, is the principal aim. in
planning their burrows after this
fashion is confirmed by the fact that
they not infrequently, after boring the
irst tunnel and forming their bed
rooms, construct a second one from
The back Of the last dormitory an
equal distance to The surface Of the
ground with the first; thus securing
n the last extremity Il safe retreat
in at least one direction. Tn this case,
the whole den extends through some
sixty or a hundred feet. Where can
the lovers of nature find q more beau
tiful illustration of the cunning and
.agacity Of brute animals?"
1t would be interesting to know
whether the red fox has changed its
habits in this respect in the upper part
- ~ totn