THE BLOOD IS WILD. By Bridgett MacCaskill.

1995 1st edition. 8vo (232 x 162mm). Pp176. Colour photographs, bibliography.

Good observations of Highland wildlife with foxes, wild and semi-tame, as a theme. "An enchanting successor to (Bridget MacCaskill's) Nature Watch television film and book on the Highland otter." Bridgett and Don MacCaskill "have been nurturing the foxes in their region in the central Scottish Highlands for as many years as they have been observing the otters on a west coast sea loch, which they chronicled (in a previous) book. But foxes belong to a persecuted species. While sheep farmers and gamekeepers attempted to eliminate these beautiful, intelligent and resilient creatures, Bridget and forestor Don were busy rescuing waifs that came their way. Some fox cubs they kept until fully grown in as wild conditions as possible, others like Rufus and Rusty became engaging pets. This book fits together a number of fox encounters into one continuous story and describes the creatures with which they share the wild glens and hills - the golden eagles, the badgers, and a very special wildcat. It is both a brilliantly observed and touching account - funny, moving and utterly surprising by turns, not least when the author recalls her heart-wrenching experience of being lowered by rope down a sheer cliff fce into an eagle eyrie where a full-grown eaglet responds to her affectionate greeting and gentle caresses." Chapters include: Wild waifs; Glimpses of gold; Death on the moor; Wild Cat Island; Runaway Rufus; Midday madness; Flight of the eagles; Drama in the woods; The call of the wild; Full circle; Epilogue. An appendix deals with the Wild Mammals (Protection) Bill 1995. A good read at a good price.