t!" and follows the track of the others. Thus the party
proceed on their march, repeating the same precautions at each fresh
barrier.

When peril approaches, the wary old fox instructs his young ones to
escape with turns and doublings on their path, while he himself will
stand still on some brow or knoll, where he can both see and be seen.
Having thus drawn attention to himself, he will take to flight in a
different direction. Occasionally, while the young family are
disporting themselves near their home, if peril approach, the parents
utter a quick, peculiar cry, commanding the young ones to hurry to
earth; knowing that, in case of pursuit, they have neither strength nor
speed to secure their escape. They themselves will then take to flight,
and seek some distant place of security.

The instruction they afford their young is varied. Sometimes the
parents toss bones into the air for the young foxes to catch. If the
little one fails to seize it before it falls to the ground, the parent
will snap at him in reproof. If he catches it cleverly, papa growls his
approval, and tosses it up again. This sport continues for a
considerable time.

As I have said, no other animals so carefully educate their young in the
way they should go, as does the fox. He is a good husband, an excellent
father, capable of friendship, and a very intelligent member of society;
but all the while, it must be confessed, an incorrigible rogue and
thief.

Do not pride yourself on being perfect because you possess some good
qualities. Consider the many bad ones which counteract them, and strive
to overcome those.

THE FOX AND THE WILD-FOWL.

Mrs F--gave me the following account of the ingenious stratagem of a
fox, witnessed by a friend.

He was lying one summer's day under the shelter of some shrubs on the
banks of the Tweed, when his attention was attracted by the cries of
wild-fowl, accompanied by a great deal of fluttering and splashing. On
looking round, he perceived a large brood of ducks, which had been
disturbed by the drifting of a fir branch among them. After circling in
the air for a little time, they again settled down on their
feeding-ground.

Two or three minutes elapsed, when the same event again occurred. A
branch drifted down with the stream into the midst of the ducks, and
startled them from their repast. Once more they rose upon the wing,
clamouring loudly, but when the harmless bough had drifted by, settled
the