Vulpine Vermin
How widely the reputation of animals varies in response to their neighbourhood ! In England everywhere the fox is still almost sacrosanct. In West Ireland and in West Scotland he is a vermin to be destroyed by any method. In Ireland I met a beautiful collie with a tin can over his jaw, and asked the reason for the mask. It was put on to save the dog from the danger of poison laid down for the foxes. They seem to have developed the wolf-like savagery of the foxes, (imported from England) in Australia. They are serious enemies to young lambs as well as of poultry, of which the favourite is the wandering goose. Another enemy to the very young lamb in the same neighbourhood is the black-backed gull. In South-West Scotland the neighbourhood is mobilised for great fox drives over the hills. In such fastnesses no hunt can keep the numbers down, and it is necessary for the defence of the sheep and poultry to destroy the excessive population by the agency of the gun.
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