69 



must be remembered that the fox manages to cap- 

 ture wild ducks, woodpigeons, hares, and number- 

 less other animals, sufficient to keep himself and 

 family ; and it is self-evident that in doing so he 

 must practise many a trick and manoeuvre that 

 would seem most improbable if related, and quite 

 beyond the instinct of animals. I have seen one in 

 confinement lay out part of his food just within 

 reach of his chain, in order to attract the tame 

 ducks and chickens about the yard, and then, having 

 concealed himself in his kennel, wait in an attitude 

 ready to spring out till some duck or fowl came 

 to his bait, which he immediately pounced upon. 

 Those, too, who have trapped foxes can tell of the 

 extreme cunning and sagacity displayed by them 

 in avoiding danger. In fact, altogether a fox in 

 a state of nature is as interesting an animal as he is 

 beautiful, and nothing can exceed the grace and 

 agility of his movements when he is hunting, or 

 playing unobserved, as he fancies, by his enemy 

 man. It has happened to me frequently to have 

 opportunities of watching a fox, and I have always 

 been unwilling to put a stop to my amusement by 

 shooting him, which, in a country where hounds 

 cannot be kept, one feels bound to do, as a punish- 

 ment for the endless mischief which he commits. 

 On the east or north-east side of Loch Laighal 



