The Fox is probably the most intelligent of all quadrupeds. It is allied to the dog and closely resembles the Alsatian, the wolf, the hyena, the coyote (prairie -wolf of north America),the dingo (native dog of Australia), and the dhole(wild dog of India).

It's chief points of difference from the others are the sharper muzzle and the shorter legs in proportion to the size of the body. It's tail or "brush" is also longer, and it's ears more erect.

The Fox has eyes with pupils that contract in strong light and expand in darkness. This enables the animal to hunt at night. It excavates it's own lair by burrowing much like a rabbit, but frequently it is a thief in this respect as it steals burrows from other animals and convert's them into it's own "earth".

The cunning and slyness of the animal is shown by the number exits to it's lair. As many as ten bolt -holes from the fox's "earth" have been counted .

It's power of scent is very acute, and it's hearing very highly developed . The animal has a peculiar strong scent , which leaves the "trail" in the so called sport of fox-hunting .

When the chase is keen Reynard frequently escapes by dashing into wide and open drainpipes.

For this reason one may see gratings placed over the mouths of many roadside and field drains.

When cornered by the hounds the animal has been known to climb roofs of houses and to dash into nearby cottages in desperate efforts to shake off it's pursuers.