251 



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 unfrequently attack and destroy full-grown 

 sheep. To prevent the increase of these freebooters, a man is 

 appointed for each district of the Highlands, called the " fox- 

 hunter," whose business it is to search out and destroy the 

 young litters, in which he is ably seconded by the farmers 

 and shepherds. 



