THE MOUNTAIN- FOX 



OCCASIONALLY, while ranging for roes, the hounds come 

 on the track of a hill-fox ; they will then show even more 

 than their usual keenness, and open with greater ardour. 

 As the same passes often serve for both, the roe-hunter has 

 sometimes an opportunity of shooting this wily destroyer. 

 Such a chance only occurs when prey is scarce on the 

 mountains, and he leaves them to seek it in the woods 

 below ; I therefore do not recommend having a charge of 

 smaller shot in one barrel a plan adopted by some. 



Any one who sees the hill-fox bounding along within 

 fair distance, will immediately be struck with the difference 

 of his appearance from that of the small cur, which never 

 leaves the low grounds. The mountain-fox is a splendid- 

 looking fellow : even the sneaking gait of the enemy of 

 the poultry-yard has, in a great measure, left him; he 

 seems to feel that he breathes a freer air, and lives by more 

 noble plunder. He is extremely destructive to all game 

 within his range, and the havoc he makes among the hill- 

 lambs is a serious loss to the farmer. He will also not 



