ioo THE DEER FORESTS OF SCOTLAND. 



seen rotting in the fields in November, and before the 

 place was cleared of sheep, many hundreds perished 

 annually during the winter months. Like all other 

 gentlemen who purchase new property, Mr. Birkbeck 

 has spent considerable sums in improvements, the 

 crofters especially benefiting at his hands, for 

 he has greatly bettered their houses, which were 

 in a dreadful plight when he took possession ; none 

 of their dwellings were water-tight, chimneys and 

 windows were rare, roofs and walls were rotten, and 

 in wet weather the floors were deep in mud. Now, 

 however, water-tight houses with slate roofs are every- 

 where, and Mr. Birkbeck's crofters are fully alive to 

 all the kind works that have been done for them, 

 while many of them are employed at good wages 

 by the generous-hearted proprietor of these two 

 estates. 



FOREST OF BALMACAAN BY INVERNESS. 



This fine forest, on the banks of Loch Ness in 

 Glenurquhart, is owned by the Countess Dowager 



