ROSS-SHIRE. 243 



district were so surprised at seeing the loftiness of 

 the selected site that regrets were freely expressed 

 amongst them that Sir John's relatives were not 

 consulted as to his state of mind, so that a stop 

 might be put to the audaciously insane proceeding 

 of building a house in such a spot, and at such a 

 height above the level of the valley, which the people 

 regarded as the only proper place fit for a habitation. 

 The first visitors to Braemore included several 

 remarkable men, and amongst them figure the 

 names of John Gould, the ornithologist ; Edward 

 Duncan, the artist ; John Campbell of Isla, Sir 

 William Harcourt, Sir John Millais, Sir Richard 

 Owen, and Sir Edwin Landseer, and the great artist 

 stalked several times in this forest, although he had 

 then nearly retired from active service on the hill. 

 When Sir Edwin arrived at Braemore he had already 

 commenced his famous picture of " The Ptarmigan 

 Hill," a commission from Sir John Fowler, and the 

 Gordon setters, which are such a prominent feature 

 of the canvas, were both drawn from a dog the 



