Choice of side of resting position in Vulpes vulpes (L.)

In fifteen foxes held under laboratory conditions all behaviour data recorded were tested according to the foxes' resting positions and especially as to the direction in which the body lay curled up (to the right or the left). 29 055 single items of data could be extracted and processed statistically. All individuals taken together show a significant preference for the right direction in the resting position. If the data are separated according to sex the statistical significance is restricted to the males. The difference between males and females is significant. The analysis indicated individual differences; individual disposition with regard to preference for one side seems plausible. Statistical testing of the foxes by twos indicated variations correlated with the biosocial status. The dominance value is positively correlated with the tendency to prefer a resting position to the left. There are significant differences between two times of day (09.00-11.00; 17.00-19.00 h) and two times of year (December-March; June-August) with respect to the type of behaviour studied. These differences refer to mean values and variance.