From Fox's Earth 



experiment has been repeated. The scene chosen 

 was the drier upland region the highlands of 

 Shetland whither I was bound. In 1901, a 

 hundred brace was put down on the Lunnastig 

 Hills, north of the mainland ; and a few have 

 found their way as far south as Lerwick. Last 

 year a little mild shooting was done. The gentle- 

 man mainly responsible for the experiment is 

 pleased with the appearances, so far as they have 

 gone. A bad season will undo much. A few 

 might drag through to start over again, and so 

 form a link in a chain of disappointments. 



With the benevolent view of giving the crofter 

 an occasional dinner of the strange creature that, 

 when out peat cutting had sought his fellowship 

 from the black forbidding moor, or beat against 

 his dim crusie-lighted window in the height of a 

 Shetland storm the scheme is amiable. It might 

 even be commended for the adoption of other 

 philanthropists. The want of fences as a pre- 

 ventative to poaching, is felt to be a weakness. 

 But fencing would hamper the free life which 

 moulds the pony. So would one of the most 

 characteristic products of the island be in danger 

 of losing much of its wild grace. Altogether 

 Shetland were better let alone. Indeed only a 

 very good reason can justify the forcing of new- 

 comers on the native fauna. There is always 

 some disturbance of the balance. 



And, in the interests of this doubtful experiment, 



94 



