ROSS-SHIRE. 291 



winter. The ground works best on a westerly wind ; 

 the annual kill at present is fifteen stags, which vary 

 in mean weight, according to the season ; in 1887 

 the average was 15 stone 6 lbs., and in 1892, 14 stone 

 9 lbs. ; in each case heart and liver being included. 



About the year 1590, Leckmelm was the scene of 

 a desperate fight between the proscribed Caithness 

 clan of Gun and the Earl of Sutherland's men. 

 The former were seeking refuge in the Western Isles 

 when they were overtaken by the Earl's men 

 " at a spot called Leckmelm," and were eventually 

 defeated with such great loss that but few of the 

 Clan Gun remained to tell the tale. 



FORESTS OF LETTEREWE, FISHERFIELD, AND ARDLAIR 

 BY ACHNASHEEN. 



This property, originally belonging to the Mac- 

 kenzies of Gairloch, was bought from them by Mr. 

 Meyrick Bankes, a Liverpool gentleman, who used to 

 stalk it from his yacht, in harbour at Poolewe, while in 

 conjunction with the deer he kept a large head of 



