Pennant on Foxes in 1771

 

The painting depicts "A Fox Stalking a Brace of Partridges" by Jean-Baptiste Oudry, a renowned 18th-century French Rococo painter celebrated for his animal depictions  Note the lack of muzzle black "tear stain","black socks" and other red fox diagnostics which would make this a good historical depiction of an Old European fox type.

Pennants British Zoology 1771  p 74

 This animal is common in all parts of Great Britain, and so well known as to not require a description….

P 75

 

There are three varieties of foxes found in the mountainous parts of these islands, which differ a little in form, but not in colour, from each other. These are distinguished in Wales, by as many different names. The Milgi or gre-hound fox, is the largest, tallest, and boldest; and will attack a grown sheep or wether (castrated male sheep)  : the mastiff fox is less (smaller), but more strongly built : the Corgi, or cur fox, is lest (smaller), and lurks about hedges, out houses, and so on and is the most pernicious of the three to the feathered tribe. The first of these varieties has a white tag or tip to the tail : the last a black. The number of these animals would soon become intolerable, if they were not proscribed, having a certain reward set on their heads.

P 74

In warm weather it will quit its habitation for the sake of basking in the sun, or to enjoy the fresh air ; but then it rarely lies exposed, but chooses some thick brake (hedge), and generally of gorse, that it may rest secure from surprise. Crows, magpies, and other birds, whoi consider the fox as their common enemy, will often, by their notes of anger, point out its retreat.

Pp 71-72

The fox is a crafty, lively, and libidinous animal : it breeds only once in a year (except some accident befalls its first litter ;) and brings four or five young, which, like puppies are born blind. It is common received opinion, that this animal will produce with the dog kind.

P 72 -73

The fox sleeps much in the day, but is in motion the whole night in search of prey. It will feed on flesh of any kind, but irs favourite food is lambs, rabbits, hares, poultry, and feathered game.  It will, when urged by hunger, eat carrots and insects ; and those that live near the sea coasts, will, for want of other food, eat crabs, shrimps, or shell fish….

In France and Italy, it does incredible damage in vineyards, by feeding on the grapes, of which it is very fond.  Thje fox is a great destroyer of rats, and field mice ; and like the cat, will play with them a considerable time, before it puts them to death.

P 73

When the fox has acquired a larger prey than it can devour at once,  it never begins to feed til it has secured the rest, which it does with great address. It digs holes in different places, returns to the spot where it had left the booty ; and (supposing a whole flock of poultry  to have been its prey) will bring them one by one, and thrust them in with its nose, and then conceal them by ramming the loose earth on them, till the calls of hunger incite him to pay them another visit.

P 73

 

Of all animals the fox has the most significant eye, by which it expresses every passion of love, fear, hatred, and so on.  It is remarkably playful, but like all other savage creatures half reclaimed,  will on the least offence bite those it is most familiar with.

 

It is a great admirer of its bushy tail, with which it frequently amuses and exercises itself by running in circles to catch it : and in cold weather wraps it round its nose.