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CHAPTER IX. 



MOUNTAIN FOXES. 



The fell Fox of the northern hills is an entirely 

 different animal from the covert-fed animal of 

 the south and midlands. It is of the " grey- 

 hound" variety, and endowed with great powers 

 of speed and endurance. It is on this account 

 that so few of the northern hill-country Foxes 

 are killed in the legitimate fashion. Although 

 the Cumbrian yeomen are keen sportsmen, the 

 hill Foxes are hunted for reasons far other than 

 those of sport pure and simple. 



Vulpecide is not even a crime, a price being 

 set upon the head of the Fox by the wardens of 

 every mountain church. And this, where the 

 crags afford such harbour, and the holdings 

 are essentially sheep-farms, must necessarily 

 be done. With no game-preserving, and but 



