VERMIN 229 



prowling round the covert, or the poultry-yard. 

 But probably he is the more nearly allied to the 

 original wild fox. 



A gamekeeper among the southern uplands 

 informs me, that, two or three years ago, he was 

 in the habit of catching these hill foxes, and 

 despatching them to the Midland counties for 

 hunting purposes. A similar trade seems to have 

 been carried on in the Highlands. In view of 

 the many advantages to which I have referred, 

 greater size, longer legs, stronger and more 

 muscular build, it was naturally supposed that 

 they would give a better run. But their superiority 

 was confined to their own rough domain, while on 

 level ground, the more diminutive lowland foxes 

 proved faster, and longer winded. 



The otter is the only other animal in the same 

 intermediate position as the fox. On salmon 

 reaches he is persecuted, under a somewhat ex- 

 aggerated notion of the mischief he works. Else- 

 where, he is encouraged in the interests of sport. 

 If nowhere systematically preserved, it is because 

 he has a genius for looking after himself. By 

 day, he is out of sight in some cunning hiding- 

 place, concealed by overhanging bank or root; 

 and, if disturbed, can enter the stream under the 



