ROSS-SHIRE. 253 



interesting relics of olden days are the mounds of 

 scoriae, found in spots where iron was smelted on a 

 small scale to provide the rude weapons of the 

 ancient inhabitants. These mounds are common in 

 many parts of Ross-shire, and in those days there 

 was doubtlessly sufficient wood for smelting the small 

 quantity required, but as there is no iron ore on 

 or anywhere near the spot, the question naturally 

 arose as to whence it came. When Sir William 

 Siemens was at Braemore, he was greatly interested 

 in this problem, and after a very elaborate investi- 

 gation by chemical analysis, he came to the conclusion 

 that the north of Ireland was the only place capable 

 of furnishing the particular ore which, when smelted, 

 would form the scoriae he had analyzed. 



Although eagles are strictly preserved in this and 

 the surrounding forests, and though they do not 

 diminish in numbers, yet certainly they do not 

 increase, and probably as long as high prices are 

 offered for their eggs they are not likely to. Near 

 Braemore House are three ancient stones placed 



