ARGYLLSHIRE. 31 



Thrice the age of a deer is that of an eagle, 

 Thrice the age of an eagle is that of an oak." 

 The first two propositions contained in this wisdom 

 of old days are nearly correct, but the third makes deer 

 live to over 200 years ! eagles to over 600 years ! ! 

 and oaks for some 2000!!! Therefore the probable 

 explanation of the reputed long-lived hind of Loch 

 Treig is that there was a succession of white ladies, 

 always supposed to be one and the same animal. 



There is no doubt that healthy hinds continue 

 to breed nearly as long as they live, and the result 

 in calves will be satisfactory or the reverse according 

 to the exposed or sheltered nature of the ground 

 during severe winters, and more calves will die that 

 are born of poor hinds than of those belonging to 

 well-conditioned ones, which is established by the 

 fact that the Inner division of Jura, which is the 

 most exposed breeding-ground, shows only twenty- 

 eight calves alive to every hundred hinds in the 

 February following their birth. On Largy division, 

 which is the choicest, best sheltered ground of 



