216 THE DEER FORESTS OF SCOTLAND. 



his master, he nobly preferred death to betraying his 

 trust. It was a descendant of this Menzies of 

 Culdares that first introduced the larch into Scotland 

 in 1737, and from two plants he gave one of the 

 Dukes of Atholl come all the immense larch planta- 

 tions that now flourish in that district. The present 

 Sir Robert Menzies is well known as one of the 

 most hardy and skilful deer stalkers of the north, 

 and I believe I am right in saying that never yet 

 has he availed himself of a seat on pony back either 

 to get to or return from the forest, and as that book 

 from which those who have titles to their names 

 cannot escape, says that the popular baronet was 

 born in 181 7, his powers of endurance are rendered 

 the more remarkable, and all good sportsmen 

 will join with me in wishing health and long 

 life to the " gael us dearg au suas," or "the 

 red and white for ever," which was the old Menzies' 

 battle-cry and is descriptive of their tartan, to my 

 mind the most handsome of them all. 



