2 THE DEER FORESTS OF SCOTLAND. 



granite boulders, broken up by corries of green 

 grass ; the less high hills being heather-clad, 

 and these again having their bases clothed with 

 wood consisting of Scotch fir and patches of birch 

 bordering on two sides with the open forest, and 

 'as the shelter thus offered covers some 15,000 

 • acres of ground, it more than takes the place 

 of a sanctuary. 



The forest marches on the south and east with 

 Glenmuick, and on the north and west with Inver- 

 cauld. The highest hills are Loch-na-gar, 3,800 feet, 

 which being interpreted by Gaelic scholars is by 

 some said to mean " The Moaning Rock," and by 

 others " The Loch of the Rock ; " then comes Cuidhe- 

 Crom, 3,552 feet, "Crooked Wreath," followed by 

 Cairn Taggert, " Priest's Cairn," 3,430 feet, and 

 many hills nearly as high. Clearing was commenced 

 in this forest in 1848, although for many years 

 previous to that there were always deer on the 

 ground. It will carry three rifles every day of 

 the season, and sometimes towards the middle of 



