INTRODUCTION 5 



in relief against the evening sky ; and that it 

 might add fresh interest to our streams if the 

 beaver, known to our forefathers as the water-dog, 

 were to restore his ancient lodges ; and show how 

 to build a dam, that would resist the most impetu- 

 ous rush of our winter spates. 



A very few voices were raised in favour of the 

 wild boar; whose presence would revive, it was 

 thought, the fear and wonder of the woods. To 

 those who have the courage to do and to dare, and 

 no one else has a right to handle gun or spear, the 

 game is none the worse of having a tusk, and the 

 will to use it. 



The great-uncle of the present Duke of Fife 

 turned some wild boars into the forest of Mar ; 

 but the experiment failed, for lack of oaks to 

 shed their acorns, and meres to grow their water- 

 lilies. 



Obviously, the conditions of life must be 

 restored before the living creatures. If still 

 larger areas were forested, which ere long will 

 probably be the case, the difficulty will cease to 

 exist. Meantime, some of the scanty patches, 

 which so shabbily represent our ancient wood- 

 lands, might shelter a few. What those restorers 

 desired was not a country overrun, as of yore, 



