SOME REMARKS ON FOREGOING CHAPTERS 273 



method of finding eggs walk without faltering to seven different 

 nests. 



With regard to the events told of in " A Month at Strath- 

 maacoe." had space permitted they might have been more 

 voluminous, and I have been puzzled in selecting matter which 

 appeared most likely to interest my readers. 



I hope no one will think the worse of me for slaying the 

 hill fox, as irt some parts of the Highlands they are far too 

 numerous, while where there are no rabbits great is the havoc 

 *they work amongst ptarmigan, grouse, and white hares ; for 

 though reynard will condescend to eat rats, mice, and moles, 

 he much prefers something more substantial. 



When writing of foxes, a strange incident is recalled to my 

 mind which happened during a stay at Carim Lodge in the 

 Ochill Hills of Perthshire. The keeper having caught a cub 

 in the spring, kept him chained up in a kennel made out of an 

 old cask. One morning the fox was missing, when it was seen 

 he had drawn the staple, and gone off with chain and collar 

 fastened to him. The keeper was sure that with this appanage 

 attached to him he could not run far, so he took his retriever 

 to the kennel, and showing him the deserted abode sent him 

 in pursuit of the missing pet, while as fox and dog were good 

 friends, he had no fear of the former coming to harm. After a 

 short absence the retriever came back, holding one end of the 

 chain in his mouth while he led the fugitive once more to his 

 kennel. 



The sad accidents told of at Strathmaacoe are but two more 

 examples of that carelessness with firearms which annually 

 claims fresh victims, and I have come to the conclusion that all 

 preaching of safety except to mere boys is useless ; for if a 

 grown-up man is such a fool as not to be able to recognise for 

 himself that the weapon capable of killing a deer or a grouse 

 will equally as well kill the bearer or his friends, then all the 

 talking in the world will not avail to make him wiser, and such 

 a one is best given a wide berth. 



