Other editions of book Red Fox

In the following story I have tried to trace the career of a fox of the backwoods districts of Eastern Canada. The hero of the story, Red Fox, may be taken as fairly typical, both in his characteristics and in the experiences that befall him, in spite of the fact that he is stronger and cleverer than the average run of foxes. This fact does not detract from his authenticity as a type of his kind. He simply represents the best, in physical and mental development, of which the tribe of the foxes has shown itself capable. In a litter of young foxes there is usually one that is larger and stronger, and of more finely coloured fur, than his fellows. There is not infrequently, also, one that proves to be much more sagacious and [viii] adaptable than his fellows. Once in awhile such exceptional strength and such exceptional intelligence may be combined in one individual. This combination is apt to result in just such a fox as I have made the hero of my story.

In the following story I have tried to trace the career of a fox of the backwoods districts of Eastern Canada. The hero of the story, Red Fox, may be taken as fairly typical, both in his characteristics and in the experiences that befall him, in spite of the fact that he is stronger and cleverer than the average run of foxes. This fact does not detract from his authenticity as a type of his kind. He simply represents the best, in physical and mental development, of which the tribe of the foxes has shown itself capable. In a litter of young foxes there is usually one that is larger and stronger, and of more finely coloured fur, than his fellows. There is not infrequently, also, one that proves to be much more sagacious and adaptable than his fellows. Once in awhile such exceptional strength and such exceptional intelligence may be combined in one individual. This combination is apt to result in just such a fox as I have made the hero of my story.The incidents in the career of this particular fox are not only consistent with the known characteristics and capacities of the fox family, but there is authentic record of them all in the accounts of careful observers. Every one of these experiences has befallen some red fox in the past, and may befall other red foxes in the future. There is no instance of intelligence, adaptability, or foresight given here that is not abundantly attested by the observations of persons who know how to observe accurately. In regard to such points, I have been careful to keep well within the boundaries of fact. As for any emotions which Red Fox may once in a great while seem to display, these may safely be accepted by the most cautious as fox emotions, not as human emotions. In so far as man is himself an animal, he is subject to and impelled by many emotions which he must share with not a few other members of the animal kingdom. Any full presentation of an individual animal of one of the more highly developed species must depict certain emotions not altogether unlike those which a human being might experience under like conditions. To do this is not by any means, as some hasty critics would have it, to ascribe human emotions to the lower animals.C. G. D. R. Fredericton, N. B., August, 1905.CONTENTS“The Price of His Life”The Lessons of the WildBlack Marks and BirchingsAlone in the WorldMating and MasteryBurning Spur and Blinding ClawThe Foiling of the TrapsSome Little People of the SnowThe Fooling of the MongrelsThe Presumption of Black MinkA Royal MarauderA Winged InvasionThe Yellow ThirstThe Red Scourge of the ForestThe Worrying of Red BuckIn the Hands of the EnemyUnder Alien SkiesThe Bell-mouthed PackTriumphA List of the Full-Page Drawings in the Book“Red Fox, meanwhile, had been watching the whole scene from that safe little ledge of rock” (See page 168)“For a little distance the fox followed its channel”“The fox stepped out upon the stones”“Slower and slower he went”“Night after night . . . the high shrill barking of a she fox was heard”“The puppy flung himself upon it without a sign of fear”“He ran up the nearest tree”“Learned to steal up and catch the brooding partridge”“He crouched, tense with anticipation”“Red Fox, sitting solitary on his knoll, heard the noise of the chase”“They all three turned and glanced back”“Glaring eyes, long tail fluffed out, and high-arched back”“He became panic-stricken, and fell to a violent kicking and struggling”“One surly old woodchuck . . . went so far as to establish himself in the door of the burrow”“Creeping with indescribable stealth around the roots of a huge beech-tree”“Delivered another of those daunting spur strokes”“The owl swooped, and struck”“She revealed a small, dark, menacing thing”“In the trap a mink was held, caught by both front feet”“He dug his powerful claws into the snow”“Red Fox rose lightly on his hind legs, . . . and pulled it down”“He caught sight of

The wily, intelligent Red Fox takes on the Canadian wilderness in this classic novel by Charles G. D. Roberts. He tangles with numerous foes, including bear, goshawk, lynx, skunk and owl. Red Fox (with kits and mate) flees a major fire and has several encounters with hounds and men. In this 1905 novel G. D. Roberts set out to make Red Fox and the animal world around him more understandable to his readers, and to encourage awareness of the cruelty involved in humanity's relationship to wild animals.

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