THE WOLF. 165 
infested by the rabid droves, that they were almost 
impassable.* 
In 1528 the Earl of Athole entertained the king, 
James V., with a great hunt which lasted three 
days. “It is said, at this tyme, in Atholl and 
Stratherdaill boundis, thair was slaine threttie scoir 
of hart and hynd, with other small beasties, sich as 
roe and. roebuck, Woulff, fox, and wild cattis.” t 
A story is told of one John Eldar, a clergyman of 
Jaithness, who on the death of James V. journeyed 
to England to present to Henry VIII. a project for the 
union of the two kingdoms. Being asked to ex- 
plain the meaning of the name ‘“ redshanks,” at that 
time given to the Highlanders, he said, “ They ‘call 
usin Scotland, ‘redshanks,’ please it your Majesty 
to understand, that we of all people can tolerate, 
suffer, and away best with cold: for both summer 
and winter (except when the frost is most vehement) 
going always bare-legged and bare-footed, our de- 
light and pleasure is in hunting of red deer, Wolves, 
foxes, and graies [badgers] whereof we abound and 
have great plenty. Therefore, in so much as we use 
and delight so to go always, the tender, delicate 
gentlemen of Scotland call us ‘redshanks.’’’t 
Harrison, who wrote in Elizabeth’s time, says that 
though the English “may safelie boast of their 
securitie in respect to wild animals, yet cannot the 
Scots do the like in everie point within their king- 
* Stuart’s ‘ Lays of the Deer Forest,” vol. i. pp. 231, 232. 
+ Robert Lindsay, “ Chronicles of Scotland,” ii. p. 346. 
+ Pinkerton’s “ History of Scotland,” ii. p. 396. 
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