ARGYLLSHIRE. 19 



that are not in perfect condition, and such an order 

 (although it greatly improves the breed of deer, 

 and is much to be commended and where possible 

 imitated) cannot fail in early rutting seasons to 

 reduce the number of stags killed. The golden 

 eagle breeds securely in the Black Mount, and 

 although most of the old naturalists speak of the 

 I' eagle-stone "as possessing both magical and 

 medicinal properties, and assert that from the 

 eagle downwards no bird of prey can hatch their 

 young without a stone in the nest, the ornithologists 

 of the present day make no mention of these stones, 

 and it would be interesting to find out how such a 

 tradition arose. 



In the old days of clanship during the period 

 when feuds were incessant, the Black Mount, like 

 almost every other part of the Highlands, was not 

 exempt from scenes of strife. It was in the mountain 

 fastnesses of these lands that the proscribed clan 

 Macgregor took shelter after they had nearly 

 exterminated the Colquhouns of Luss at the battle 



