232 TOUR IN SUTHERLANDSHIRE. 



and bodily exertion as in their wild state they would be con- 

 strained to take in pursuit of their daily prey. Common 

 fowls live to the age of ten or twelve years, but become use- 

 less and rheumatic after six or eight. Such, also, is the case 

 with pigeons. I knew of a pair who lived for fifteen years, 

 but they were barren for some years before their death. 



The length of life of small birds is probably less : but it is 

 difficult to form an accurate opinion on this point ; inasmuch 

 as any deductions founded on canaries or goldfinches in a 

 state of confinement must be fallacious, as all caged birds 

 are subject to numerous diseases, from over-eating, from im- 

 proper and too little varied food, and a thousand other causes, 

 which do not affect those who live in a state of natural and 

 healthful liberty. 



It is a curious fact, that one scarcely ever finds the dead 

 body of a wild bird or animal whose death appears to have 

 been caused by old age or any other natural cause. Nor can 

 this result from the fact of their being consumed immediately 

 by animals of prey, as we constantly meet with the bodies of 

 birds who have been killed by wounds from shot, &c. Either 

 (as donkeys and postboys are said to do) the wild animals on 

 the approach of death creep into hidden corners of the earth, 

 or nearly all of them, before they reach extreme old age, are 

 cut off by their common enemy, mankind, or serve as food to 

 birds and beasts of prey. 



I have, however, killed both eagles and foxes who bore 

 unmistakeable marks of extreme old age ; the plumage of the 

 former being light coloured, thin, and worn ; so worn, indeed, 

 as to lead one to suppose that the bird could not have 

 moulted for several seasons, and the faces of the latter being 

 grey and their jaws nearly toothless : yet they were still in 

 good, and even fat condition. In animals, age and cunning 

 supply the place of strength and activity ; so that the eagle 

 and fox are still able to live well, even when they have 

 arrived at the most advanced age assigned to them. 



Very old deer become light-coloured and greyish, especially 

 about the head and neck, and have a bleached and worn- 

 looking appearance over their whole body. Their horns, also, 

 lose much of their rich appearance both as to colour and size, 

 becoming not only smaller, but also decreasing in the number 

 of their points. The Highlanders assign a great age to the 

 red deer ; indeed they seem to suppose that it has no limit, 

 save a rifle ball ; and they tell wonderful stories of famous 



