130 THE LIFE OF A FOX 



are very astonishing ; but the sagacity of an old dog 

 of the fox-hound sort is superior to that of every 

 other. The collie dog is taught by man what to do, 

 whilst the old fox-hound teaches his master. Had it 

 not been for the sagacity of the hound, I should have 

 been spared many a perilous run. The shepherds 

 pretend that the breed of the mountain fox is of a 

 different kind from our own, and that the head of 

 the male is larger. For my own part, I beUeve the 

 animals to be of the same kind as ourselves, and to 

 be merely larger altogether ; for I have sometimes 

 met one in my rambles. Their superior size may 

 be accounted for as follows : having been born or 

 bred in the wholesome air upon the mountains, 

 where food, such as rabbits, is probably scarce, they 

 find and fatten upon sheep which from various 

 accidents die there. Having once got a taste for 

 such food, it is not surprising that they will take a 

 lamb, or attack an old one which has fallen through 

 illness or neglect. Anxious as I am to protect my 

 own race, I cannot blame the shepherds for waging 

 war against the transgressors ; as it is known that 

 when once a fox has taken to such a habit, he seldom 

 gives it up but with his life. Felons are to be found 

 everyw^here ; but, as to ourselves, the following facts 

 will prove that the generality of us are not guilty 



