214 A PTARMIGAN DAY. 



punctilious in claiming precedence for the first 

 chance at a fox as the chief of the olden time at 

 the stag ; and woe betide the subordinate who 

 dares to fire before him ! Two farmers having 

 bolted Eeynard with their terriers from some 

 rocks, and missed him just when the " tod- 

 hunter" was rushing up, he saluted them with 

 such a volley of abuse as completely stunned the 

 whole party. One of the bunglers soon recovered 

 presence of mind enough to unpocket a whisky- 

 flask and deal a glass round ; then, turning to the 

 foxhunter, " Had it no been for your ill tongue ye 

 suld hae had yin tae ; " which knowing dodge as 

 effectually cooled the deathsman of the tods as if 

 it had been a bucket of water. 



How different soever their characters or dis- 

 positions may be, there is no doubt that men of 

 the same occupation acquire a family likeness. 

 Eatcatchers, " molemen," the old beadles of the 

 Kirk, characteristically nicknamed " belltows," as 

 well as cabmen, weavers, tailors, shepherds, &c., 

 all are outwardly modelled into shape by the 

 tools of the shop they work in. No better 

 example of this general rule than the Highland 



