60 POPULAR SCRIPTURE ZOOLOGY.

ing greatly from the wolf, jackal, and probably the dog in
a state of nature.

Foxes are found in most parts of the world, but are far
more abundant in the temperate and cold climates: from
the severity of the latter, their thick warm fur forms an
adequate protection. They live on small animals, such as
hares and rabbits, the latter of which they dig from the
warren, and game of all kinds, which they destroy in great
quantities; when these are scarce, they make war on
rats, field-mice, serpents, lizards, toads, and moles; roots
and insects do not come amiss to them when pressed by
hunger, and grapes and other sweet fruits are considered a
dainty, as well as honey, for which they will attack and
ransack the nests of the wild bee. The female fox makes
her nest of leaves and hay; the young ones, from three to
eight in number, are born blind, and much resemble young
puppies. The skin of the fox, being furnished with a soft
warm fur, is much used for muffs, boas, and other similar
purposes ; great numbers are, therefore, taken in the alpine
districts of Switzerland, and imported from Newfoundland
and the countries round Hudson’s Bay. The flesh of the
fox is coarse and rank, but is eaten by the natives of the
latter countries, and even in some parts of Europe, where