138 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



Professor Young then made some remarks corroborative of Mr 

 Hull's views, and expressed a hope that the subject would be still 

 further investigated, as, judging from what had been already 

 indicated, the results were likely to prove both interesting and 

 instructive to geologists generally. 



II. — On the Mammals and BejMles of Sutherlandshire. By Messrs 

 Edward R. Alston, F.Z.S., and John A. Harvie 

 Brown, M.B.O.U. 



The first account of the Mammals of Sutherlandshire with 

 which we are acquainted is to be found in Sir Robert Gordon's 

 "Earldom of Sutherland" (1630), where the following species 

 are enumerated — "Reid-deir and Roes, Woulffs, Foxes, Wyld 

 Catts, Brocks, Skuyrells, Whittrets, Weasels, Otters, Martrixes, 

 Hares, and Foumarts." In 1836 Mr Selby published an ex- 

 cellent paper " On the Quadrupeds and Birds of Sutherland," 

 in vol. V. of the Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal; and 

 scattered notices are to be found in the works of the late Mr St. 

 John ; in Scrope's " Days of Deer-Stalking ; " in Wilson's 

 "Voyage Round Scotland;" and in the "Statistical Account of 

 Scotland," by the Parish Ministers. 



The number of Mammals found in Sutherlandshire is not great, 

 but several of them are interesting as being now rare or extinct 

 in the more cultivated regions of Britain. The noble Stag still 

 wanders over glen and corrie; the fierce Wild Cat and the 

 beautiful Marten lurk in the birch-woods; the Fox and Badger 

 find safe retreats in the cairns and rocks of the bare hill-sides, 

 and the lithsome Otter pursues its prey alike in the sea, lochs, 

 and rivers. 



But if the existing fauna of the county is of interest to the 

 naturalist, that which has passed away is of still greater importance. 

 From pre-historic times we have traces of the Reindeer {Cervus 

 tarandus)y and the Beaver (Castor fiber), remains of which have been 

 found in various parts of Sutherlandshire and Caithness. Ip Gaelic 

 tradition legends of the Wild Boar {Sus scrofa) still survive and 

 have given name to several localities in the county, as Aultnatore 

 — "the Burn of the Boar" — near Ben Loyal. But the Wolf 

 (Canis lupus), lingered very much longer than any of these others, 

 and it appears to be certain that the species existed in 



