APPENDIX. 325 



latter species, but, curiously enough, has survived over a larger area 

 up to a later date ; that is to say that while the boundaries of the 

 country at present inhabited by the wild-cat are easily defined, and 

 are gradually contracting, the occurrences of the Marten are more 

 sporadic, often turning up in localities far distant from one another, 

 where no records had previously occurred for many years. The 

 Marten being extremely unsuspicious of a baited trap, falls an easy 

 prey to the professional vermin-killer. In Assynt it is now very rare, 

 but in 1876, in the Keay Forest, one keeper had fifteen skins awaiting 

 the annual arrival of the furrier's traveller. Two were got at Guallin 

 in 1882, but they are very scarce there, though possibly less so than 

 elsewhere in the county. In the east of the county they have not been 

 known for many years, and are almost, if not quite, extinct in the 

 Tongue district. 



Wild-Cat Felis catus L. 



Becoming extremely rare in Assynt during the last decade, but it is still 

 not uncommon in the Eeay Forest, where it is preserved by the Duke 

 of Westminster. One very large one was killed in Assynt in 1881. 

 Between March 1831 and March 1834, as recorded by Selby, 901 Wild- 

 Cats, martens, and foumarts were destroyed. According to a list of 

 vermin killed on Dunrobin grounds, house cats and Wild -Cats are 

 distinguished, and six is the number of the latter killed between 1873 

 and 1880. One keeper in Assynt killed no less than twenty-six Wild- 

 Cats between 1869 and 1880, but of these only three during the last six 

 years. Another keeper killed ten between 1870 and 1873, but no more 

 until the winter of 1879-80, when he killed four, one of which is de- 

 scribed as a monster. These notes very clearly indicate the process of 

 extermination, and we have many other lists which show the same 

 process of decline. In the east of the county, though not yet extinct, 

 it'is also very rare, though we hear of one being caught occasionally ; 

 and it is still found, though rarely, in the Tongue district. 



Fox Vulpes vulgaris (Fleming). 



Very plentiful, a pretty regular crop appearing every year, and aflfording no . 

 mean addition in the form of premiums to the gamekeepers' salaries, 

 besides employing regular Fox-hunters. 1 is given for an old dog, 2 for 

 a vixen, and 10s. each for cubs. Between 1831 and 1834 premiums were 

 paid for 239 Foxes on the Sutherland estates. In Assynt and Durness 

 for 156 between 1870 and 1879. In the Reay Forest and Glen Dhu 145 

 between 1866 and 1880 by one return, and by another hand, in the Reay 

 Forest between 1873 and 1879, 164 ; or, in all, from Reay Forest and 

 Glen Dhu in that time, 309. In Assynt, on Mr. Whitbread's shooting, 

 by one keeper alone, no less than 53 between 1869 and 1880. Between 

 1866 and 1869, 340 were killed. On Dunrobin 60 Foxes were killed 

 between 1873 and 1880. In Assynt also, on another beat, another man 

 got 11 Foxes between May 1879 and May 1880. Still very abundant in 

 the East, and at normal numbers around Tongue, neither increase nor 

 decrease being observable. 



Common Seal Phoca Vitulina, L. 



Not uncommon at some localities, especially in the firths of the north 

 coast, and occurring all along the coasts in the west. Another resort 

 on the east coast is a sandbank at the entrance of the Dornoch Firth, 

 visible from the town of Tain. Here they used to lie in large numbers, 

 though lately a good many have been killed with punt guns, one man 

 killing three and wounding two with one shot : these latter were 

 afterwards found. Another resort is the Little Ferry, where they 

 come in and out with the tide. 



Gray Seal Halichcerus gryphus (Fabricius). 

 Fairly common along the east coast, especially where there are any 



