Page:Babyhood of Wild Beasts.djvu/207

 CHAPTER XVIII

ITTLE baby Foxes are darlings. Their faces are round and chubby, set with eyes as bright as beads. Their little bodies are fat and round, and their fur is soft, woolly and abundant. From five to six is the usual number born in a litter. They are born blind as little kittens are. As they mature, the face grows pointed, the tail develops into a handsome brush, the legs lengthen and the little fat body takes on a longer and more graceful outline.

The mother fox is very devoted to her babies. With great caution she keeps them safely hidden in the burrow whenever there is the slightest danger of their presence being discovered. When convinced that there are no prowlers lurking about, she leads them out of their murky, dark burrow up into the green world. She encourages them to dig in the soft, warm earth and get the