C. L. Walton 17 



That much of the loss is due to foxes is certain, but I do not consider 

 that the whole of the damage attributed to them can be laid to their 

 account. 



Dogs are responsible for a considerable share, and often I believe 

 the dogs of the farmers themselves, though many are unwilling to 

 admit it. Dogs are left loose in some instances with a view to pro- 

 tection from foxes. It is my opinion that too many dogs are kept on 

 many of the farms and sheep walks, and very frequently these are not 

 sufficiently well fed. Quite a number of outbreaks of lamb killing 

 have been traced to dogs (and some of these were destroyed) during 

 the progress of the Survey, but it is unlikely that I have heard of more 

 than a part of the total. 



Again, these dogs, and others, are very seldom kept shut up at 

 night, and a considerable proportion roam the hills at will. When 

 stopping here and there in the hills during the course of the Survey 

 I have been disturbed during the nights by such prowling dogs. It 

 would no doubt be difficult to track many, but the practice is very 

 harmful in this and other connections. Nevertheless, although some 

 part of the total loss is attributable to dogs, the fact remains, that 

 a heavy and unnecessary toll is taken by foxes at the expense of sheep 

 farmers. Complaints of loss vary from four or five lost to 40 or 45, 

 and in the spring of 1913, one group of eight sheep walks together 

 claim to have lost 300 lambs. The most dangerous period in the 

 hills is usually May, when thousands of ewes and lambs are taken from 

 the lowlands to the mountain walks for summer grazing. A proportion 

 of ewes are lambed on the sheep walks, in some cases depending largely 

 on the elevation and the amount of improved land available. 



If a map is constructed showing the distribution of these troubles 

 it will be noted that a very considerable proportion of the complaints 

 of loss come from the hill country lying W. of Plynlymon, and more 

 or less in the centre of the Survey Area, and further that it comprises 

 the hinterland of the region most hunted. Another point of great 

 importance shown by mapping is the distribution of rabbits within 

 the area. It will be observed that very few rabbits occur in this region 

 showing the greatest damage to lambs, in marked contrast to the state 

 of affairs in the southern part of the area. There is no doubt th9,t 

 foxes everywhere depend very largely upon rabbits for their food, and 

 in these hills rabbits are either very locally distributed or quite absent. 

 Moreover it so happens that the maximum number of lambs are available 

 just when the vixens have to feed their cubs and teach them to hunt ; 



Ann. Biol, iv 2 



