THE FOX TERRIER. 289 



subject that was very naturally exceedingly interesting to him. 

 We were obliged to confess that the matter was as much a puzzle 

 to us as to himself, but promised to think it over. Account for it 

 as we may, it is in truth a fact that has attracted attention 

 everywhere, that not for many years, if indeed ever before, have 

 foxes been so numerous all over the Highlands. In the three 

 adjoining districts of Badenoch, Lochaber, and Ardgour, the last 

 including a part of Sunart, we are assured that no less a number 

 than two hundred and forty-three foxes have been killed or captured 

 since mid-April, besides, as already stated, a considerable number 

 worried in the recesses of their big rock dens which could not be 

 actually " bagged " or charged for after the fashion of the craft 

 by brush or pad, though there was no doubt at all of their having 

 succumbed after, in each case, a more or less desperate battle, -to 

 the assaults of their terrier assailants. And here, good reader, you 

 must permit us, en parenthese, a slight disgression, not altogether, 

 we hope, uninteresting. We wonder if in the great family of 

 dogs anywhere throughout the world there is anything to equal in 

 hardihood, pluck, and all endurance the Highland fox-hunter's 

 canine following 1 ? They are invariably a rough and ragged lot 

 enough, and seemingly at sixes and sevens as to anything like 

 assortment; no two of them exactly alike in colour, size, or 

 breed ; and they are usually low in stature, though of considerable 

 bone and well developed muscle what there is of it ; but be what 

 they may in these respects, when you fall in with one of our fox- 

 hunter's packs, six, seven, eight, or a dozen in number, as the case 

 may be, be sure you have before you the gamest, varmint est little 

 beggars to tackle otter, fox, or badger that the whole world can 

 shiow. Our visitor of the other day had only one little fellow of 

 his pack along with him. " What's his name, Donald ? " we asked, 

 pointing to his wiry follower, that we could easily see was, from 

 the ink-black tip of his nose to the extremity of his tail, a " varmint " 



