i68 DELIBERATE DESTRUCTION OF ANIMAL LIFE 



numbers of Rabbits increased more than fourfold, an ex- 

 traordinary contrast to the rapid decline which marked the 

 history of the Polecat in the same area. The increase of 

 Rabbits is especially striking when one recollects that at the 

 beginning of the century they were comparatively few in 

 the south-western Lowlands, for the Agricultural Survey of 

 Dumfriesshire states that in 1812 "a few rabbits are to be 

 found, but hardly worth mentioning. There is no regular 

 warren." The increase of these grass-eaters is to be definitely 

 associated with the increasing supply of food afforded them 

 during a period which, from 1837 onwards but especially 

 after 1853, was marked by steadily increasing agricultural 

 activity throughout Scotland (see also p. 390). 



It is worth noting also that the graph may afford some 

 evidence of that antipathy between Rabbits and Hares to 

 which I shall allude elsewhere (p. 253); for it is known 

 that locally in Scotland, as in New South Wales, where 

 exceptional increase of Rabbits has taken place, the Hares 

 have been driven out. The close agreement, for the greater 

 part, between the motions of the two curves may indicate that 

 only very large numbers of Rabbits adversely affect the 

 welfare of Hares. 



THE FOX OR TOU 



Of the destruction of the Fox ( Vulpes vulpes] on account 

 of its evil ways, I have already spoken, but it is well to 

 remember that the value of its skin acted like a price upon 

 its head in encouraging more strenuous pursuit. In the 

 fourteenth century an export duty of fourpence was levied 

 on each timmer of skins (see footnote, p. 159) and this was 

 raised, in 1424, to sixpence on every ten "tod" skins ex- 

 ported. In the beginning of the seventeenth century the 

 skins exported (valued at 40^. apiece) numbered 101 2 a year, 

 no inconsiderable slaughter when there is added to it the 

 number traded within the country, and when the limited 

 extent of the native stock is taken into account. 



THE OTTER 



The demand for the skins of Scottish Otters (Lutra 

 lutra] has been long on the downgrade. The Otter skins 

 which were exported in the early seventeenth century the 



