Evening star., 1948-06-18
This I and That That, g,
~ CHARLES Z. Trace1oell 'Fe
Z. TraceweH
KING PLACE.

Dear Sir:
Imagine our stunned surprise and excite
ment, as We sat at dinner last evening, to see
large gray fox emerge from the shrubbery at
one of our lily pools.
House cats and dogs, squirrels rabbits and
birds, parade here regularly to bathe and drink
There was no mistaking this creature-long
stiff legs with huge, bushy tail, characteristic
ally arched. We watched for Is minutes or more
then decided he had gone on into the woods
This is the part of the story which is almost
unbelievable:
"A Maltese house cat came leisurely ambling
across our open lawn. and not fifteen feet be-
hind him came the fox.
He didn't appear to be stalking the cat
just following.
1T was an amazing performance, because it
was broad daylight-5:30 by the sun, and right
out in the open.
mo sinking from bush to bush, or furtive
glances-just plain following.
1--WE watched for quite while longer, when
suddenly the same Maltese appeared at the
same spot we first saw him, and going in the
same direction.
This time he was moving along quite jaunti-
ly. so much so my husband thought 1t was an
other cat.
"1t looked as If the fox had tabby going
around in circle Or n7avEe vice versa!
Yours very truly, A. H. B"
u
Fv such terms as "rngo-a' and Maltese "
we believe most of our readers mean Persian
cat.
small, but based on powerful necks. The ears
are small, the eyes good, and friendly to hui
mans, but not to rats.
1t may be that Persian cat would work
up friendship with fox.
In nature, odd things continually are hap
is filled with stories from all parts of the
country OF dogs mothering cats and kittens,
mother cats taking baby chicks under their
care, and so en-.
The fox and the cat are nocturnal animals,
having much in common in their hunting
methods.
In nature many creatures live together, re-
specting each other, and not being too much
worried by the possibilities of being eaten by
others.
Both cats and foxes are curious, to degree:
each wants to know what is going on, and has
a real interest in things
Cats, for instance. like flowers. They often
watch borders not alone for the mice that
sometimes hide in them. but also for the sheer
pleasure Of seeing the blossoms move in the
wind.
Our old yellow cat Quincy, delighted in
standing on his hind legs and smacking ORR
entail poppy flowers.
To an outsider this might have seemed an
act Of destruction, but to those well acquainted
with the animal it was just appreciation.
The peculiar odor of the fox would attract
the attention Of house cat. Perhaps the lat
ter has some appreciation of the ability OF the
fox as a stalker. Despite its trail of scent left
behind it, the fox manages to nab all the prey
it needs.
The fox is beautiful dignified animal, de-
serving much more attention than he usually
gets from those who love animals.
Natural poses Of living creatures are always
the best. We saw wild rabbit the other day,
in a walled yard.
1t was immovable, just four feet from where
we stopped to admire it,
We talked to 1t good while, and it did not
move. It was beautiful in the grass, above
which its large ears protruded
The eyes glistened in the sunshine. We held
out blossom of clover, but that was too much
away went the rabbit, lippety -hppety. leaving
Us with the sense Of having seen something
wonderful under the sun.