inhabiting the County of Sutherland. 159 



6323 L.878 19 



Under such a system, which is now supported by the lessees 

 of the estate, it is not improbable but that, in a very few years, 

 some of the species of the raptorial birds and carnivorous quadi 

 rupeds may become extinct. On this account, therefore, and as 

 evidence of what existed up to a certain period, I am induced 

 to forward these lists to the Society, being aware that in other 

 respects they can possess but little interest to the generality of its 

 members. 



MAMMALIA. 



1. Sorex araneus. Common Shrew, Common. 2. S. fodiens. Water 



Shrew. Common upon the margins of the lakes and rivers ; all the speci- 

 mens obtained were of this species.— —3. Talpa Europsea, Common 

 Mole. Plentiful. 1 . Meles Taxus, Common Badger. Pretty gene- 

 rally dispersed throughout the midland mountainous part of the county. 

 *— 5. Vulpis vulgaris^ Common Fox ; large variety, with a black tip at th$ 

 tail. Foxes in Sutherland are very numerous, and of a large size, similar 

 in form to the variety we call the Greyhound fox j but they differ from 

 it in having the tail tipped witb black instead of white. They are very 

 destructive to the new-dropped lambs, and, when pinched for food, will 

 even attack and kill the full grown sheep. On this account they are pro- 

 scribed by the sheep farmers, and destroyed by every device by the regUc 

 lar appointed fox-hunters, who obtain the following premiums for every 

 head they produce, viz. for a full grown dog-fox, 16s. ', for a female, L, 2, 

 2s. ; for each young fox or cub, 7s. 6d. During the day they retire to the 

 mountains, where they lie concealed among the fragments of broken 

 rocks, or in the holes of the debris, &c. The life of a fox-hunter, for such 

 is the title of the vermin-destroyer, is one of great toil and fatigue, for he 

 is obliged to be out at all seasons, and in all kinds of weather. He gene- 

 rally departs for the mountains under night, to be in readiness to inter- 



• All of the species Corvxu comix. Hooded Crow. 



•f The Dipper is so called throxighout Sutherland and other parts of the Highlands. The Aletdo 

 itpida It rarely seen. 



