From Fox's Earth 



jealous is the proprietor of his possession, that he 

 is said to be killing out the interferers with its 

 well-being and spread. To kill the hawks for 

 -the sake of grouse is at least traditional : there is 

 a precedent. To kill hawks for the white hare is 

 new-fangled. But a new broom sweeps clean. 

 In the hare is the comedy of the situation. 



Shetlanders are turning their eyes to the 

 mountain hares one asked through the news- 

 paper where they could be got. How very 

 remote must be that man's dwelling ? Why 

 almost anywhere north of the Tay. Many 

 proprietors would be glad to get them taken 

 away. The man who is at all this trouble, and 

 inquires anxiously how they are likely to stand 

 the journey, will be sure to watch over his pets. 

 For the sake of a few hares, which are as common 

 as rabbits, the rare native fauna must suffer. Should 

 the craze spread, Shetland is not unlikely to pass 

 through the dark ages of the Highlands, from 

 which it may emerge at some distant date, 

 miserably poorer. 



The way through the dreary environment was 

 interesting, because of what was underfoot. The 

 paving of the Inferno is said to be better than the 

 place itself. I am not disposed to have much to 

 do with stones, in a record of living forms the 

 matter is too cold and dead. It is scarcely 

 possible to pass unnoticed anything so very 

 striking. 



96 



