IXTRODUCTORY 9 



and heather-clad hills, intersected by a multitnde of glens 

 dear to the angler. The section of the Tay area falling 

 within our limits is mainly lowland towards the east, and 

 highland in the west. It will thus be seen that the district, 

 whether we contemplate it as in the natural garb of former 

 times, or as now changed in outward aspect by the hand of 

 man, is well fitted to be the home of a mammalian fauna 

 rich both in species and in individuals. In the case of the 

 rarer and more interesting species, occurrences throughout 

 the south-east of Scotland generally will be alluded to. 



From the earliest times man has ever exercised a modify- 

 ing influence on mammalian-faunas, adversely affecting some 

 species either by direct persecution or by rendering the 

 country unsuitable to their habits, and directly or indirectly 

 fostering the increase of others. He lias, moreover, long 

 been in the habit of importing certain species from one 

 country or district to another, so that it is not always easy 

 to separate the indigenous from the introduced. The more 

 populous a district becomes, and the more its agricultural 

 industries are developed, the greater will be the changes on its 

 fauna. Add to these factors the existence for many centuries 

 of a large and influential class of landowners holding strong 

 views regarding the preservation of game, and it will readily 

 be understood that the district around Edinburgh was prob- 

 ably the first in Scotland to witness a radical change in 

 the character of its mammalian-life within historic times. 

 The larger predaceous animals, such as the Wolf and the 

 Bear, which carried destruction among the flocks, and even 

 threatened the life of the herdsman himself, would be among 

 the first to succumb. Many species would be hunted for their 

 skins or their flesh ; others mainly for sport. The smaller 

 Carnivora would receive further attention on account of 

 their visits to the poultry-yard, and Hares and Rabbits 



b 



