INVERNESS-SHIRE. 87 



more than two rifles go out except quite at the 

 end of the season, and then perhaps, if the wind 

 is in the right airt and the house full of guests, a 

 third is sometimes given a chance. Also with regard 

 to the number of stags killed, it must be borne in mind 

 that the number of stalks to be got each day is some- 

 what curtailed by the fact that at Achnacarry there 

 are no paths up the hills so as to shorten the time 

 taken by each party to reach the scene of actual opera- 

 tions. Neither does the owner of Achnacarry pick 

 his guests on account of their being good shots ; a 

 bad one is as welcome as a good if he be but a 

 keen sportsman. 



The stags weigh exceptionally well, and the 

 average, after casting one or perhaps two small 

 beasts killed by accident, has for some years past 

 been over 16 stone, including heart and liver, which 

 are always weighed here on the ground that they 

 are edible, and brought home for the express purpose 

 of being eaten. 



In the season of 1894 the seven best deer made 



