WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS 



stones at the edge of the loch; presently another, and an- 

 other, appeared in a little grassy glade which ran down to 

 the water's edge, till at last I saw seven of them busily at 

 work within a few yards of me, all coming from one direct- 

 ion. It at first struck me that they were some farmer's pigs 

 taking a distant ramble, but I shortly saw that they were 

 badgers, come from their fastnesses rather earlier than 

 usual, tempted by the quiet evening, and by a heavy sum- 

 mer shower that was just over, and which had brought out 

 an infinity of large black snails and worms, on which the 

 badgers were feedingwith good appetite. As I was dressed 

 in grey and sitting on a grey rock, they did not see me, but 

 waddled about, sometimes close to me; only now and then 

 as they crossed my track they showed a slight uneasiness, 

 smelling the ground, and grunting gently. Presently a 

 very large one, which I took to be the mother of the rest, 

 stood motionless for a moment listening with great atten- 

 tion, and then giving a loud grunt, which seemed perfectly 

 understood by the others, she scuttled away, followed by 

 the whole lot. I was soon joined by my attendant, whose 

 approach they had heard long before my less acute ears 

 gave me warning of his coming. 



In trapping other vermin in these woods, we constantly 

 caught badgers — sometimes several were found in the 

 traps; I always regretted this, as my keeper was most un- 

 willing to spare their lives, and I fancy seldom did so. His 

 arguments were tolerably cogent, I must confess. When I 

 tried to persuade him that they were quite harmless, he 

 answered me by asking — "Then why, Sir, have they got 

 such teeth, if they don't live, like a dog or fox, on flesh ? — 



394 



