172 Fauna of Glenoairn. 



hairs standing out in the fur as if to lend a greater purity to its 

 winter coat. The tip of the ears remains dark. 



Rabbit {Lepus aiiiiciilus). 



It seems hard to believe that about fiftj' years ago rabbits 

 wei'e almost, if not, non-existent in this district, where now you 

 can scarcely traverse a field, hillside, or wooded patch without 

 putting- up one. When allowed to run riot it does a great deal of 

 damage and harm, but when kept in proper subjection it is doubt- 

 less a source of some profit and pleasure to the farmer. Like the 

 brown rat, it is wonderously prolific, and the amount of prog'eny 

 one pair can produce in a single breeding season is enormous. In 

 this district it is numerous from the lowest valley to the highest 

 hill. It is common to find one with malformed front teeth, one 

 growing- straight out from the jaw for as much as two inches, the 

 other teeth curving inwards, where in time they would cause the 

 death of the unfortunate animal. These malformations are no 

 doubt caused through an accident to the teeth or jaw, usually a 

 shot wound either in the teeth or in the jawbone. Black ones and 

 white ones are common, although in their true wild state grey is 

 the natural colour. 



Black Rat {Mus rathis). 



Extinct in the memory of the senior generation ; was smaller 

 than the Brown Rat. 



Foumart {Mustela putorius). 



Attacked poultry yards and game ; confined now to 

 inaccessible retreats. 



II. — Edward /. at Szveetheart Abbey. By E. J. Chinnock, LL.D. 



The historical field of Dumfriesshire and Galloway has been 

 so well reaped and gleaned by our Society that it is very rarely 

 that anything fresh can be brought forward. But I think that I 

 have picked up one little stray stalk passed over by the gleaners, 

 which I now proceed to hand into the garner of our " Proceed- 

 ings." After crushing Wallace, Edward I. spent a considerable 

 time in reducing various parts of Scotland to subjection. He 

 met with vigorous resistance at Carlaverock, but after a long 

 siege, took the castle about July 10, 1300. My old friend, the 



