1 j:\ptnn Do., 1 <.\
fox (F. vnlgnris), are Palestine species. There is also the so-called Turkish fox (Cynnlopex Turcicus) of Asia Minor, not unknown to the south as far as the Orontes, and therefore likely to be an occasional visitant at least of the woods of Libanus. Tliis animal is one of an osculant group, with the general cliaracter of vul- pes, but having the pupils of tiie cj'es less contractile in a vertical direction, and a gland on the base of the tail marked by a darlv spot. There is, besides, one of a third group, namely, Thovs anthns, or deeb of the Ar- abs, occasionally held to be the wolf of Scripture, be- cause it resemldes the species in general appearance, though so far inferior in weight, size, and powers as not to lie in the least dangerous, or likely to l)e the wolf of the Bible. The first two do not howl, and the third is solitary and howls seldom ; but there is a fourth (Canis Syriacus, Ehrenb. Mammal, ii) which howls, is lower and smaller than a fox, has a long, ill- furnished tail, small ears, and a rufous-gray livery. This can hardly lie the Canis avrciis, or jackal of Pal- estine, and certainl}' not the \nvcnoQ of ^Elian. The German naturalists seem not to have considered it identical with the common jackal {Sacalius aureus).
FOX
637
FOX
which is sufficiently common along the coast, is emi- nently s;regarious, offensive in smell; howls intolera- blv in complete concert with all others within hearing ; burrows ; is crepuscular and nocturnal, impudent, thievish ; penetrates into outhouses ; ravages poultrj'- yards more ruinously than the fox ; feeds on game, lizards, locusts, insects, garbage, grapes ; and leaves not even the graves of man liimself umlisturbed. It is probable that Canis Si/riaciis is but a chryseus, or wild dog, belonging to the group of Dholes, well known in India, and, though closely allied to, distinct from, the jackal. Itussell heard of four species of Ca- nidse at Aleppo, Emprich and Elirenberg of four in Libanus, not identical with each other; nor are an}' of these clearly included in the thirteen species which the last-named writers recognise in Egypt. They still omit, or are not cognizant of, wild dogs [see Doo], and likewise other wild species in Arabia and Persia; all, including foxes, having migratory habits, and therefore not vinlikely to visit Palestine. Some of these may have accompanied the movements of the great invasions of anticjuity, or the caravans, and be- come acclimated ; and, again, may have departed, or have been gradually extinguished by local circum- stances, such as the destruction of the forests or of the inhabitants, and the consecjuent reduction of the means of subsistence ; or, finally, they may have been extir- pated since the introduction of gunpowder. Hassel- quist (^Trarcls, p. 184) saj-s foxes are common in the stony country about Bethlehem, and near the Convent of St. John, where, about vintage time, the}' destroy all the vines unless they are strictlj' watched. Thom- son started up and chased one when passing over that part of the plain where Timnath is believed to have been situated (^Land and Book, ii, 340). That jackals and foxes were formerly very common in some parts of Palestine is evident from the names of places de- rived from these animals, as Hazar-Shual (Josh, xv, 28), Shaal-bim (Judg. i, 35). .See Jackal.
The fox is proverbially fond of grapes {Aristoph. Equit. 1076 sq. : Theocr. v, 112 sq. ; Nicand. Alai- pharm. 185; Pha>dr. iv, 2; Calen, Alim. Facult. iii,2), and a verj^ destructive visitor to vineyards (Cant, ii, 15). The proverbially cunning character of the fox is alluded to in Ezek. xiii, 4, where the prophets of Is- rael are said to be like foxes in the desert, and in Luke xiii, 22, where our Saviour calls Herod "that fox." The fox's habit of burrowing among ruins is referred to in Neh. iv, 3, and Lani. v, 18 (see also Matt, viii, 20). (On Psa. Ixiii, 11, see Pausan. iv, 18, 4.) The Rab- binical writers make frequent mention of the fox and his habits. In the Talmud it is said, "The fox does not die from being under the earth ; he is used to it, and it does not hurt him." And again, "He has gain- ed as mvich as a fox in a ploughed field," i. e. nothing. Another proverb relating to him is this :
"• If the fox be at the rudder, Speak him fairly, ' My dear brother.' "
Foxes are figured in hunting-scenes on the Egyptian monuments (Wilkinson, Anc. Egypt, i, 224, abridgm.). See Chase.
None of the usual explanations of the controverted passage in Judg. xv, 4, 5, relative to the foxes, jackals, or other canines which Samson employed to set fire to the corn of the Philistines is altogether satisfactory. First, taking Dr. Kennicott's proposed explanation of the case {Reviarlcs on Select Passages in the 0. T., Oxf. 1787, p. 100), on the authority of seven Heb.MSS., by changing C^b^'TJ to C'^5"'^'', thus reading handfuls (comp. the Sept. at 1 Kings xx, 10), i. e. "sheaves" instead of "foxes," and translating 35T, "end" instead of "tail," the meaning then would be, that Samson merely connected three hundred shocks of corn, al- ready reaped, by bands or ends, and thus burned the ■whole. We admit that this, at first view, appears a rational explanation (see Hopkins, Plumb-line Papers,