The Vektebkates of Sulavay. 15 



iictuallj- perpetr.atecl the same at Luce without any provocation by shoot- 

 ing him with a pistol on the mTnincj of Frida}', the 24 July, 1795. He 

 was aged 3o years 3 months and 11 days. His corporeal remains were 

 deposited here on the 27th of the above month. 



So ends tlie tragic connection of the last Douglas of Dornock 

 with Luce. 



II. — The Vertebrates of So/way — A Century's Cha/iges. 

 By Mr EOBERT SeEVICE. 



Looking over the records of the century that has just passed 

 away, the naturalist will find that the changes that have taken 

 place amongst the members of our indigenous fauna are numerous 

 and interesting. Some species have gone altogether, and we 

 shall know them no more as local inhabitants. Many have sadly 

 diminished from former abundance. Others, again, have risen 

 enormously in numbers, and a few, quite unknown here when the 

 century began, have arrived in our district and assumed a fore- 

 most place in the attention of the student of these important inter- 

 faunal relations. 



The great agricultural progress made during the century has 

 had much effect on our native species. Witli the e.\tensive drain- 

 age that has taken place, and reclamation of bog and moss, the 

 wild fowl have been dispossessed of their chosen haunts. The 

 numbers of several species of wading- birds have become more and 

 more restricted. 



The I'e-afforesting that took place to such a wide extent in 

 the earlier years of the century provided homes and shelter for 

 such species as the Roedeer and the Squirrel. The hedge en- 

 closures, with rows, belts, and clumps of ornamental or '• wind 

 breaking " trees, have greatly encouraged the propagation of 

 small passerine birds. 



Arable land has gone out of fashion in a marked degree, and 

 pastoral cultivation is taking its place, to the advantage of such 

 species as the Starling. On the rougher and hill portions of the 

 country. Black Cattle have long since been replaced by sheep. 

 One consequence is that heather is slowly dying out. No heather 

 patches ever extend now, and plenty of it has disappeared 

 altogether. 



Many members of our fauna have suffered severely from 

 game preserving. Since early in the 20's the passion for this form 



