1850] Tcte-a-Tete with a Fox. 15 



Black Head, close to which latter we passed, and fired at 

 the Cormorants as they flew between us and the high cliff; 

 although in our case the birds were too wary to suffer 

 from our shot, which I think was also too small, being 

 No. 6. The solid table-like masses of rock of which Black 

 Head is composed were very striking when viewed from 

 below. In the meantime our bag was fast swelling and 

 our luncheon devoured with great relish (chickens torn 

 asunder in a most cannibal style). The birds that I could 

 make out on the bay were Greater White Tern, Herring 

 Gull (the Black-backed is said to come at harvest-time), 

 Kittiwake Gull, Foolish Guillemot, Black Guillemot, Razor- 

 bill Auk, no real Puffins; but we only shot four different 

 sorts. Our shooting, I think, was rather good, as we had 

 not quite heavy enough shot, and yet there were very few 

 misses. Capt. Shawe-Taylor had lent me his Manton, and I 

 found it a most killing piece. .... We only regretted not 

 having got a Cormorant, which species is very numerous 

 here, in so much that the boatman told me a friend of his, 

 by ambushing their line of flight, had killed twenty-five in 



one single morning. We returned to 's house at 



about 5i, and dined there, got away at about 8, and reached 

 home under three hours." 



"Aug. 17. Werft out into the wood after breakfast to 

 hunt for brambles ; was not very fortunate, as I only got 

 four different sorts : Rubus idseus, R. nemorosus, R. dis- 

 color, and one I take to be R. saxatilis. I, however, got 

 an excellent view of a fox, that at the distance at which I 

 first saw him looked just like a reddish dog ; but I very soon 

 made out his brush, and as my gentleman did not seem to 

 be in any hurry, I walked slowly up until we stood about 

 five yards apart, when, after a stare or two at each other, 

 my vulpine acquaintance trotted slowly off, leaving me 

 quite astonished at his assurance." 



" Sept. 7. Set out at 55 for the grouse-shooting. Got 



to at 7, and after breakfast we prepared for a start. 



As our ground was still four miles off, we thought it best 

 to save our legs as much as possible, and so mounted what- 

 ever we could get for the occasion, Walter and I being on 

 our old cart-horse without a saddle, and such a penance as 



