398 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
flat skins a few days afterwards, which he had killed in his own 
garden; but it is not usually found above 5000 feet. 
Sitting in the verandah, in the bright moonlight after dinner, 
enjoying the last cheroot of the day, I spied a Fox stealthily 
approaching the cook-room, between the stable and the bungalow. 
I sat motionless for a minute or two, watching him, and soon saw 
a second Fox join him. I stepped backwards into the room, 
loaded my gun with No. 5 shot, and went round by the back of 
the house. I got into the shade behind a pillar, and made out 
the pair busy at some delicacy they had found near the cook- 
house. I was within five and twenty paces, and was lucky enough 
to knock them both over, right and left. They were beautiful 
specimens, in perfect condition, and with remarkably fine brushes. 
Vulpes montana is a very handsome animal, its coat of a richer 
and somewhat paler hue than our Fox, but otherwise very near 
to it. It is common in the N.W. Himalayas, and I got many 
specimens at Landour, where I once was witness to a curious 
scene wherein it figured. One bright moonlight night I was just 
going to bed, when my attendant said, ‘‘ Cherisher of the poor, 
there is great sport going on outside; come and see.” He led me 
to the railing which separated the terrace on which my cottage 
stood from a bit of kitchen garden on another terrace, some 
twenty feet beneath. This patch was then partly under green 
peas, half a dozen rows, duly stuck. One of my pets at this time 
was a young but full-grown Ghoral, a pretty and perfectly tame 
creature, that used to roam about the place all day, and was 
driven into a loose box in my stable at night. My servant 
missing it on this occasion, when wanting to put it to bed, had by 
chance looked over the railing, and there came upon what he now 
invited me to witness, which was this: the little Ghoral and a 
big Mountain Fox having a game of romps in the moonlight ! 
They chased each other up and down the paths and -between the 
pea-rows, tumbling and jumping about in all directions, the Fox 
now and then lying down and the Antelope making at him, 
butting or poking at him with his sharp little horns, after which 
the chase would recommence, the pursuer and pursued changing 
places in turns. This little game went on for half an hour, and 
might have lasted all night ; and there was not, so far as I could 
see, any attempt at rougher play on either side; but as 1 was 
somewhat apprehensive that a tragedy might be enacted, I pelted 
