come out and hunt for food. They live for the most part upon rabbits, hares, partridges, grouse, and fowls; and they are amongst the most formidable enemies of the farmer's poultry-yard.

7. In the mountainous districts of Scotland, where it is impossible to hunt the fox on horseback, these animals are very abundant, and are periodically hunted on foot by shepherds, who shoot and otherwise destroy them by aid of their dogs. The foxes thus destroyed are termed hillfoxes, and are most destructive to lambs. It is therefore not considered unsportsmanlike to shoot the hill-fox. Foxes would have been long ago completely exterminated in the more level parts of our country, had they not been strictly preserved; great care being taken that a fox shall not meet its death in any other than the proper and approved fashion. 8. This consists in hunting it by the aid of hounds regularly trained for the purpose; this mode of chase being rendered possible by the fact that the fox is endowed with an odour so strong that he can never get rid of it, and dogs of quick scent can in this way follow his flying footsteps across a whole county. 9. The fox, it need hardly be said, uses every possible means to throw the hounds off the scent, for he is aware that, if it is to be merely a question of which will run the longest, he is perfectly certain to be caught. He turns suddenly to one side in his course, or even retraces his steps for some distance, and then leaps off in some new direction; or he crosses some piece of water; or,

if reduced to the last extremity, he takes refuge in some burrow or drain. He will even take refuge

in a cottage, much to the surprise of the inmates. In spite of all his devices, however, it generally happens that in the end he falls a victim to his numerous and persevering enemies.

10. There are many stories of the cunning of the fox. A tame one that was kept in a stable-yard was on quite friendly terms with the dogs; but the cats could not bear the smell of him. The crafty animal soon found this out, and made use of his knowledge to cheat them of their breakfast. As soon as the cats' allowance of milk was poured out, he would run up and walk several times round and round the saucer, so that the ground might be tainted with the scent. None of the cats would

come near it; and Mr Reynard had the milk for his own breakfast. 11. When this trick was discovered, the milk was put in a place which he could not approach. But necessity is the mother of invention; and Reynard secured his supply of milk by another stratagem. When the dairy-maid was crossing the yard with her pails, he would run and brush himself against one of them; and the milk thus acquired so strong an odour that the maid durst not carry it into the dairy. This trick was continued, until the spoiled milk was given to the pigs; after which he saw that the trick was useless.

SUMMARY.

1. The fox is a close relation of the dog and the wolf; but it has a bushy tail, and the pupil of its eye is like that of the cat in being a straight slit in the daytime. Like the dog, wolf, and cat, it walks on the tips of its toes. 2. Foxes of various species abound in almost all parts of the world, and some of them are highly valued for the sake of the beautiful furs which they yield. The common red fox of Britain is also considered an important animal, because it affords a good deal of sport when hunted on horseback.

QUESTIONS.-1. Why does the fox need to be very cunning? 2. To what other animals is he closely related? 3. In what does he differ from the wolf? 4. What animal is the common English fox most like? 5. Describe his colour, his ears, and his nose. 6. Where does he live? 7. What sort of creatures are the young? 8. What does the fox feed on? 9. Why have not foxes been cleared out, like wolves? 10. How does he escape from the hounds? 11. Tell the story of the fox and the cats' breakfast. 12. Tell the story of the fox and the dairy-maid.

DICTATION.-Learn to write out the last two sentences of section 9.

EXERCISES.-1. Learn to spell the following words:

2. Parse every word in the following sentence: There are many stories of the cunning of the common fox. (There is an adverb, which goes with are to enable us to place the nominative stories after the verb.)

3. Give the principal parts of the following verbs: Put; make; have; bite; lie; take; say; run.

4. Make nouns of the following adjectives and verbs: True; clever; swift; intelligent; use; relate; differ; resemble; assemble; high; except; bite; conceal; hunt; die.

5. Explain the following phrases: (1) No animal is harder put to it to save its life. (2) It will bite if it be brought to bay. (3) Some animals are incapable of offering any serious resistance. (4) They have not been exterminated. (5) In spite of his devices, he falls a victim to his enemies. (6) Reynard secured his supply of milk by another stratagem.

6. Write a short composition on 'The Fox' from the following heads (1) He is a near relation of- (2) His eyes are different. (3) His appearance. (4) His dwelling. (5) His young. (6) He lives on. (7) How he escapes the huntsman.

(8) His cunning.

BY-AND-BY.

Elf'in, little elf or fairy.

| Thwart'ing, crossing and undoing. Treach'erous, faithless and deceitful

1. There's a little mischief-making

Elfin,

who is ever nigh,

Thwarting every undertaking,

And his name is By-and-by.

'What we ought to do this minute,

Will be better done,'

he'll cry,

2. Those who heed his treacherous wooing,
Will his faithless guidance rue ;
What we always put off doing,
Clearly we shall never

do.

We shall reach what we endeavour,

If on 'Now' we more rely ;
But unto the realms of 'Never,'

Leads the pilot 'By-and-by.'

EXERCISES: 1. Learn to spell the following words:

2. Give equivalent phrases for the following: (1) He thwarts every undertaking. (2) They will rue his faithless guidance. (3) We must not put off doing. (4) 'By-and-by' leads to the realms of Never,'

REVENGE.

The following story is told of many persons in many nations; but the moral is the same: Take no revenge; forgive your bitterest enemies; and do good to them that hate you.

Mem'orable, worthy of being re

membered.

Cavalier', gentleman.

Acquaint' with, tell of.

Confide', trust.

Provide' for, make arrangements

for.
Ascertained', found out.

A

1. The Spanish historians relate a memorable instance of honour and nobleness of mind. Spanish cavalier, in a sudden quarrel, slew a Moorish gentleman, and fled. His pursuers soon lost sight of him, for he had climbed unperceived over a garden wall. The owner, a Moor, happening to be in his garden, was addressed by the Spaniard, who on his knees acquainted him with