MOUNTAIN FOXES 271 



shepherd to despatch a whole litter; and he never 

 loses the opportunity. At such times the parents 

 keep at a respectful distance, never attempting to 

 defend their young. 



The extreme beauty of the red mountain fox is 

 best seen when his figure is sharply outlined against 

 the snow. How fleetly buoyant he glides along, 

 his brush floating light as air behind him! What 

 grace in his leaps, and litheness in his long, finely- 

 drawn limbs! They are perfect masses of muscle. 

 After looking at them it is easy to account for his 

 marvellous powers of endurance. That easy jog-trot, 

 by reason of its very buoyancy, conveys but little 

 notion of the actual speed. As the fox floats along 

 his brush lends itself to the delusion, the close, thick 

 fur concealing the intense muscular play beneath. 

 His speed can only be judged by comparison. 



One day in winter, as I listened to the baying of 

 the hounds among the crags, a fine dog-fox leaped 

 lightly over the fence within a few feet of where I 

 stood. A fast cur bitch ran him through a long 

 meadow, but only kept pace for a few strides, the 

 fox out-distancing her with contemptuous ease. 

 The race opened my eyes, for the bitch ran like a 

 rough-coated greyhound, and was " Fleet " both by 

 name and nature. 



Like many wild creatures foxes have well-defined 

 routes, seeking their food morning and evening. A 



