To Mountain Tarn 



an advantage, and so a stronger frame is built 

 up, standing higher from the ground. Over a 

 certain common area the two varieties cross, and 

 are indistinguishable. 



A stronger character goes along with the 

 stronger build. The coverts are natural, the 

 range ample, the life free, unpampered, and un- 

 cribbed. It is a wild animal, living under perfectly 

 wild conditions, wild as the otter of the highland 

 stream, wild even as the banished wolf. All this 

 appears in its more upright gait, and bolder survey 

 of the intruder on its haunts. 



South of the Tay it is bad form to kill a fox. 

 Captain Forrard, passing on his hunter, asks 

 after Mrs. Shoddington's collie. "Ah, Fanny, 

 poor dear ; our keeper shot it in mistake for a fox." 

 Out of respect for the sex he held his peace. It 

 marks the man as a boor and the woman as an 

 upstart, ay, and a culprit as well. It is a breach 

 of the decalogue of sport. Wherefore should the 

 "Thou shalts" be altered into the "Thou shalt 

 nots " ? 



All the heinous offences of the raider are put 

 down against the day of reckoning. But what 

 does it more than others? Item: it kills lambs. 

 I am afraid it does, especially at the season of the 

 year when the golden eagle may pick up a deer 

 calf ; so, too, does its lowland cousin. The offence 

 is one, not so the punishment. The redress is 

 handed over to the shepherd, who smiles at the 



