THE HILL FOX 



CHAPTER VII 



LEAVING the vShires for the Welsh and Scot- 

 tish mountains, and the I^akeland fells, 

 we come across our old friend Reynard 

 again, a much bigger Reynard however, and 

 leading a wilder and more untrammelled existence. 

 Even in Wales and on the fells of Cumberland and 

 Westmorland, where the hill-fox is hunted by 

 foot-packs, he is still something ot an outlaw; 

 and in the deer forests of Scotland — many of 

 which are crawling with foxes — every man's hand 

 is against him. It is in the countries of his 

 outlawry, that he exhibits that perfection of 

 growth, stamina, and cunning, seldom seen 

 amongst his relatives of more civilised regions. 



The big hill-foxes are well able to look after 

 themselves, and their prey includes lambs, young 

 deer calves, dead or dying sheep, wounded stags, 

 and the smaller creatures in fur and feather. 

 On the mountains a fox must constantly have 

 his wits about him, for he is always in danger 

 from hidden traps, ambuscades, or poisoned baits. 

 Wherever he goes he must tread warily, guided 

 by his keen nose and his past experience. 



As already mentioned, certain of the Scotch 

 deer forests are literally crawling with foxes, for 



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