HUNTING DIRECTORY 305 



the Farmer from Foxes. 



Foxes are more mischievous perhaps in the mountain- 

 ous districts than in any other parts : — in the north of 

 England, for instance, and the mountainous parts of 

 Scotland, where they are probably in some degree cir- 

 cumscribed in their food, and where their destruction by 

 the shepherds is of little consequence to the chase, since 

 it is not possible to follow foxes with hounds in such 

 places. It is true, some years ago, Mr. Forbes kept a 

 pack of fox hounds in the Highlands of Scotland, in the 

 neighbourhood of Inverness, and there may be fox 

 hounds still kept in some parts of that rugged country, 

 for aught I know to the contrary ; but, of all places, the 

 Highlands of Scotland appear to me the least hkely to 

 afford diversion. On the 13th of August, 1824, I hap- 

 pened to be shooting in the Highlands of Caithness, in 

 company with Mr. John Gun, whose father, John Sin- 

 clair Gun, Esq. occupies a very considerable extent of 

 these Highlands, upon wliich he feeds many himdreds 

 of cattle and sheep — his farm yard is also well stocked 

 with poultry. Finding that foxes frequently appeared 

 amongst the hills, I inquired as to the damage which was 

 sustained from their depredations — it was very trifling 

 indeed. It must be recollected that in these parts there 

 are plenty of grouse, as well as ptarmigan and the 

 Alpine hare, upon the tops of the grey hills, wliich, with 

 a number of other birds and small animals, no doubt, 

 form the food of the foxes. 



The same remarks will, in a great degree, apply to 

 the mountains of the north of England, in some parts of 

 which foxes are very numerous : it is true, neither the 

 ptarmigan nor the Alpine hare is foimd upon them; but 



