4 WILD LIFE OF SCOTLAND 



halt by the way at the inn, to realise a past state of 

 things. 



As a last resource, much of the wood was destroyed ; 

 and the tenants thereof dealt with on more equal 

 terms. So began a war of extermination, only 

 justifiable as a measure of self-preservation, which 

 was not without its sacrifices. The mischief, as far 

 as the trees are concerned, we are slowly repairing ; 

 often with no other view than to soften and vary the 

 hardness and monotony of the landscapes. What 

 about the animals ? 



Toward the close of last century, a temporary 

 movement began; which soon spent itself, and 

 seems to have excited so little attention, that, 

 probably, its very existence is not generally 

 known. 



Its object was to restore some of the exiles 

 thus, unceremoniously, driven forth. The boldest 

 advocate of things as they were, acknowledged that 

 these islands were too contracted for the larger, and 

 more dangerous of the wild animals to be turned 

 loose; and drew the line at the bear, and the 

 wolf. 



But, it seemed to some that it might increase the 

 picturesqueness even of such hills as ours, if the 

 reindeer were once more to walk along the ridges, 



