WAY TO DESTROY VERMIN. 399 



some distance, or the young ones would be apt to stumble into 

 them. As only single traps are set, they should be tied to a 

 stone just large enough for the fox to drag with some trouble. 

 The keeper should always sprinkle a little water over the top 

 covering of the trap to take off the scent of his fingers. 



I do not give publicity to these modes of destroying foxes, 

 with any design to their being followed in the Lowlands, where 

 the gentlemen of the " View halloo ! " would give me small 

 thanks. I only write for the preservation of the Highland 

 game and lambs ; and am sure that, if my plan was vigorously 

 followed up, we should not be infested with half so many foxes 

 as we are, " fox-hunter" and all ! This, I believe, will never 

 be ; the fun of a Highland fox-hunt being so popular among the 

 farmers as to overbalance the merits of any other system 

 requiring trouble, dexterity, and patience.* 



The otter, although harmless on the moor, is sufficiently mis- 

 chievous in the loch to deserve honourable mention here. On 

 the banks of the lochs and rivers which he frequents, he has 

 always a fane to which he resorts once a day : this is either a 

 stone or root of a tree ; but if neither of these are at hand, he 

 scrapes up the sand or gravel into a small mound. It is easy 

 to know his marks, as his dung is full of fish-bones. Traps 

 should be set all round, a twenty-feet cord tied to each, with 

 a cork or piece of wood attached ; the traps never to be fastened, 

 otherwise the otter may pull out his leg, from its being so 

 smooth, thick, and short. The moment he is caught, he waddles 

 with the trap to the water, which sinks and drowns him, the 



* I lately saw in the newspapers a plan for extirpating foxes in the 

 Highlands. Each hill-farmer was to keep a couple of fox-hounds, a good 

 greyhound, besides terriers. When occasion offered, they were to join 

 packs, and collect the best shots (alias, the greatest poachers) in the neigh- 

 bourhood. I can only say, without in the least impugning the motives or 

 honesty of intention of the projector, that if the Highland proprietors 

 suffer a gang of this kind to take the hill at pleasure, they will soon hardly 

 have a head of game on their estates. As to allowing farmers to keep 

 greyhounds, terriers, &c., no gentleman who sets any value on his grouse 

 or hares would ever think of it. 



