292 THE DEER FORESTS OF SCOTLAND. 



sheep, well known for their excellence of quality. 

 Mr. Bankes, however, got many good heads and 

 heavy beasts during his time, but dying in 1880, he 

 left Letterewe House with the policies to his widow, 

 while the remainder of the forest with Fisherfield 

 was willed to one of his daughters, who married 

 a French gentleman of the name of Liot, and Mr. 

 and Mrs. Liot-Bankes are the present owners of 

 the property, which they let to Mr. J. F. Laycock, 

 while they themselves reside in a beautifully-placed 

 house on the shores of Loch Maree. This ground 

 was first let clear of sheep in 1883, to Mr. Charles 

 Perkins, who spent large sums in buildings, improve- 

 ments and forest paths, to which Mr. Laycock has 

 also added considerably. Including the lands of 

 Ardlair and Fisherfield, the forest has an area of 

 about 45,000 acres, many parts of which are very 

 steep, rough walking, while other portions afford 

 both excellent grazing and shelter. The stags mostly 

 winter on the slopes of the Loch Maree hills, or on 

 the low grounds near the sea, while the hinds chiefly 



