G 
RED GROUSE. 
killed prey. I then mounted the hill-pony that carried the panniers, and rode rapidly homewards 
despatching on my arrival a supply of necessaries to enable the Avatchers to remain throughout the nio-ht 
on the spot. At daybreak the following morning, as the men had not returned, I again started for the 
hill and learned that a fox had been seen at dusk ; a drifting squall of sleet passing over at the time, the 
dim light had probably interfered with the aim, and the charge fired appeared to have taken little effect. 
A thick coating of snow to the depth of several inches had fallen during the night, and the shelters put 
up as well as the wraps provided had proved most acceptable to those on the watcli. As it Avas quite 
possible that the cubs might be deserted owing to tbe alarm given, Ave determined to dig them out at 
once; after setting the men to wmrk, I proceeded Avuth a couple of terriers to make a cast round the 
loAver part of the hill, in order to ascertain if by chance any fatal injury had been inflicted by the shot. At 
length, after nearly an hour’s search, I came upon a fine old dog-fox lying dead and stiff in a dry 
gully about half a mile from the cairn. On returning up hill it Avas evident from the excitement shown 
by a couple of the dogs that had been left, and their reluctance to advance any distance into the den, 
that the vixen had succeeded in escaping observation during the darkness and had made her Avay into 
the earth. After several hours’ labour the family, Avith the exception of the vixen, Avhora I Avas forced 
to shoot, and one cub torn by the terriers, Avere safely secured in hampers and brought down to the 
lodge. On carefully examining the contents of their larder, aa'C discovered the remains of four hen Grouse 
and tAvo Greyhens all fresh ; the fragments that Avere left also gave evidence that over a score of blue 
hares as Avell as a few' rabbits had been lately brought in and partially consumed. On putting the 
terriers into another cairn, half a mile further along the ridge of the hill, they dragged out tAVO more 
Grouse ]Aartly eaten, and in all probability the cubs had only lately been removed from this den ; the 
dogs exhibiting little excitement Avhile exploring the innermost recesses, Ave did not Avaste time to dig 
down and inA'Cstigate the amount of prey collected. The w'holo of the birds discoA'ered having proved 
to be hens engaged in sitting, ample proof is afforded of the numbers of broods of Grouse that must he 
destroyed to supply the requirements of a single litter of cubs. Though condemned by some Avho have 
claims to be considered authorities on the sulqect, I can bring no charges based on personal observation 
against the badger, Avhose numbers liaA'e greatly diminished of late years. As my knoAvledge concerning 
the habits of these animals was exceedingly limited, I made inquiries of Donald McKerchar, the head 
keeper at Innenvick in Glenlyon, and he furnished the folloAving information: — “With regard to badgers 
destroying Grouse, I cannot say that I have CA'cr seen them doing harm;, they feed for the most part 
on dead sheep or other carrion found decomposing on tlie hills ; I believe, hoAvever, that they Avill occa- 
sionally take eggs. Nothing in the shape of food is to be seen about their dens*, AA'hatever they carry 
to their young is first SAvalloAved and aftei’Avards disgorged. They are also very fond of Avild honey: 
Avhen liviiAg Avith my father near the head of the glen, I haA'e often seen Avhere they had been engaged 
in digging out the comb ; by some means or other they Avere enabled to kill the bees, Avhich were to be 
seen lying dead round about the place.” Wild cats are noAV so scarce, banished, in fact, in almost every 
district to the deer-forests or the remotest ranges of the hills, that the injury they inflict on the interests 
of the Grouse-shooters must be exceedingly small. The domestic pussy, Avhen Aveary of basking before the 
fire in tbe shealing or shooting-lodge, rarely strays to any distance up the hill-side unless to take up its 
quarters in a rabbit-Avarren. As far as I Avas able to ascertain in the Highlands, avc seldom suffered 
from the depredations of these marauders, unless a fcAV young rabbits Avere carried off ; a good look- 
out, hoAA'ever, had to be kej)t that the door of the larder Avas in perfect order, or an entrance would 
be effected and any game hanging Avithin reach torn doAvn and carried off. Rats also are seldom met 
This fact I noticed on more than one occasion, but do not assert that it is invariahlj’ the case, having only examined three or four of the dens 
or cairns to which badgers resorted in tlic Highlands. 
