568 On the Counterfeiting of Death 



pied that singularly beautiful dell known by the name of the 

 Dream of Kilmorac. The northern bank of this singular val- 

 ley, or rather ravine, for it is something intermediate between 

 the two, is richly wooded, and much of the sloping bank is a 

 natural strawberry-bed. It swarms with all those inhabitants, 

 whether of the air or of the earth, which are found in warm 

 and wooded spots of the Highlands. To render the collec- 

 tion complete, there are eagles on some of the towering rocks, 

 near the lower part, and no want of goshawks any where. The 

 hill beyond, too, is well stored with grouse ; and as it is near the 

 cultivated grounds, there are common hares, as well as alpine 

 ones. Of course, this is a very favourite retreat for foxes ; and 

 though the wild cats are said to keep them at bay when they 

 attempt to assail the preserve, they kennel in the margins, and 

 infest the country around. The then clergyman of Kilmorac 

 was a man of great taste, very fond of society, and very hos- 

 pitable ; and he accordingly endeavoured to provide for his 

 numerous guests all the good things which his glebe land, on 

 field or on hill, could afford. 



" A well-stocked poultry-yard is an essential requisite in 

 such cases : but here foxes were so numerous, and their covers 

 so near, that a poultry-yard was out of the question ; and it 

 was sometimes necessary to employ boys to * hoo ! hoo !' the fox, 

 even after the parson's pullets were turned out to range the fields. 

 A poultry-house was thus requisite, and the rev. doctor 

 prided himself not a little in having constructed one which 

 was completely fox proof; and for a good many years it had 

 been impregnable to Reynard, so that the doctor's pullets and 

 their eggs were known far and wide for their excellence, their 

 abundance, and the frankness with which they were given to 

 every one who courted the very pleasant society of their 

 owner. A friend of ours had spent a night in this romantic 

 and hospitable abode; and while fresh salmon from the Beauly, 

 dressed in very delicious steaks, formed one article for the 

 breakfast-table; new-laid eggs,from the strong holdof the hens, 

 were of course to form another. Christian, the purveyor in 

 these cases, took the key, and marched off, basket in hand, to 

 bring the supply ; but, when she opened the door, a scene of 

 the most direful havoc presented itself: every perch and nest- 

 hole was bedabbled with blood; dead hens lay in dozens on the 

 floor, and in the middle was a full-sized fox, stretched out at 

 full length, and apparently, a sharer in the common mortality. 

 The maid never doubted the death of the fox ; but attributed 

 it to a different cause, namely, that he had so gorged himself 

 on the poultry, that he had burst. Here were three causes to 

 rouse the mingled wrath and contempt of Christian. The 



