Story about hunting foxes, 29 August 1883
Scope and Contents
Story about hunting foxes collected from Donald MacColl [foxhunter, Glencreran, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire]. In it he tells of a particular hunt in Coire Chaorain [Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire] in which a vixen was killed and then her cub was discovered, eyes still unopened and two bullets in its hind legs. He describes how the vixen plays with her cubs all day and goes out at night to hunt mice and frogs and how the fox brings home moles for the cubs to play with 'No creature eats these'. If a vixen is killed he says that the fox kills a suckling lamb and brings it back for the cubs. The fox is such a clean creature that there would not be a drop of blood on the wool. He says that they were often in the mountain at night watching the den. Lastly he mentions that polecats do not go high in the hills. MacColl is quoted as saying 'Many a time the foxes took a turn out of me. But many a time I took a turn out of them in return.'
Dates
- Creation: 29 August 1883
Language of Materials
English,Gaelic
Conditions Governing Access
This material is unrestricted.
Extent
From the Series: 1 notebook ; 17.5 x 10.8 cm
Physical Location
5.07
Physical Location
folio 20v, line 19 to folio 22v, line 8
Subject
Creator
- From the Fonds: Carmichael, Alexander, 1832-1912 (Excise officer | folklorist and antiquarian | Edinburgh | Scotland) (Person)
- From the Fonds: Watson, William John, 1865-1948 (Professor of Celtic) (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
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Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
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