GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER IN SCOTLAND 13 



also fully known, if not fully told, and within the easy reach 

 of all who are specially interested, and it may be said to 

 have commenced on Speyside towards the end of the last 

 century, the example having been shown by the Duke of 

 Athole in the valley of the Garry, and followed by the pro- 

 prietors upon Speyside shortly afterwards ; and in the begin- 

 ning of the present century. At the present time the whole 

 valley and minor hill-slopes of Spey may be said to have 

 become re-habilitated in a mantle of pine-wood of various 

 ages. On the Countess of Seafield's properties alone over 

 40,000,000 of trees have been planted quite in recent years ; 

 while, at the same time, many thousands of acres of the 

 older growths have been scientifically conserved ; and they 

 are now engaged as of old, in self-regeneration. And there 

 seems little fear at the present day, that any repetition of 

 the old wastefulness of our forests will be permitted. 



We have very rapidly, very imperfectly, and without the 

 least attempt to go into detail, thus sketched the history of 

 our pine-woods. Those who are interested will find a great 

 store of unarranged materials in many of our old Chronicles, 

 in the works of Hector Boece, in the histories of the country, 

 in the records of the York Building Company, dating as far 

 back as history takes us, and tradition gives us any in- 

 dications. 



Shortly then we wish to recapitulate, and to point out 

 that even down to the recent date of 1864, the old forests of 

 native pine underwent wholesale destruction ; and previous 

 to that date, the restoration of forests by younger wood 

 had commenced on other areas beginning at the end of 

 the last century, about 1770,011 Speyside, and continuing 

 down to the present time, until nearly the whole valley has 

 been again reclothed. And, at the present time, we have 

 shown that whilst large areas of the old pines still exist, 

 especially in Speyside, in the forests of Glenfeshie, Rothie- 

 murchus, and Duthil, Abernethy and Glenmore, Darnaway, 

 Castle Grant, and Altyre, these are also for the most part 

 being conserved. To this we wish to add : old and decaying 

 pines are still being, year by year removed to make way for 

 light and air to the younger generations, and afford relief to 

 those still remaining in vigorous old age. This, it is needless 



