 Depictions of kitsune or their possessed victims may feature round or onion @-@ shaped white balls known as hoshi no tama ( ほしのたま , star balls ) . Tales describe these as glowing with kitsunebi . Some stories identify them as magical jewels or pearls . When not in human form or possessing a human , a kitsune keeps the ball in its mouth or carries it on its tail . Jewels are a common symbol of Inari , and representations of sacred Inari foxes without them are rare . 
 Depictions of kitsune or their possessed victims may feature round or onion @-@ shaped white balls known as hoshi no tama ( ほしのたま , star balls ) . Tales describe these as glowing with kitsunebi . Some stories identify them as magical jewels or pearls . When not in human form or possessing a human , a kitsune <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>keeps</mark></a> the ball in its mouth or <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>carries</mark></a> it on its tail . Jewels <a href='drop_aux' title='3'><mark>are</mark></a>a common symbol of Inari , and representations of sacred Inari foxes without them <a href='drop_aux' title='4'><mark>are</mark></a>rare . 
Depictions of kitsune or their possessed victims may feature round or onion @-@ shaped white balls known as hoshi no tama ( ほしのたま , star balls ) . Tales describe these as glowing with kitsunebi . sum stories identify them as magical jewels or pearls . When not in human form or possessing a human , a kitsune keep da ball in its mouth or carry it on its tail . Jewels a common symbol of Inari , and representations of sacred Inari foxes without them rare .