22 



the production is increased considerably. This destruction no 

 doubt has aroused a prophetic spirit in some individuals, who 

 Pessimistic foretell the downfall of the Forest by over shooting about 

 Jura prophets, g vears hence, and also say that cromies are extermi- 

 nated. Cromie stags are very curious ; it is said they exist 

 only in Jura, where certainly they are historical. I have heard 

 it stated that they have been known in Mull, but Maclaine 

 of Lochbuie thinks not. Cromie in Gaelic means crooked. 

 These Cromie horns slope backwards, and are altogether very 

 remarkable. Some cromie heads are beautiful. We have not 

 shot cromies for several years, and perhaps it is argued that 

 absence from the larder proves absence from the hill. Cromies 

 only affect certain parts of the ground ; on those districts there 

 may be perhaps 3 cromies to 100 stags, or rather more, for we 

 know of about 8 cromies, and it is not likely we know of half 

 those existing ; they are not very easy to recognize at any consider- 

 Cromies. able distance. We have found 3 dead cromies, none of which 

 we knew in life. We have shot 1 1 cromies in 1 2 years. Five 

 were seen in one day last year. We have shot 2 cromies in 

 1890. 



It is unsafe to prophecy unless one knows. 



There is a small number also of bald, or hornless stags, in 

 Jura. These animals usually carry very high condition ; they 

 fight as eagerly as horned stags, sometimes beating off their 

 armed adversary. Their ears are often split in the clash of 

 battle, so of course are the ears of horned stags. 



Bell (British Mammals, 2nd Ed. p. 357) is in much confusion 

 with the Scotch Islands and the Cromie stags. His reference to 

 an abundance of stags of any kind, in Mull, puts him out of 

 court. Very likely he confused Mull and Jura. 



There is no considerable stock of red-deer in any Scotch 

 Island except The Long Island, Skye, and Jura. 



The 



Pessimists 

 refuted. 



We will set the following facts against the above gloomy 

 inspirations. The very careful and fortunately managed Forest 

 count 1889, showed 534 stags, or 759 for the whole ground, 



