27 



Taking account of what stags have been killed in the Forest 

 (natural death and disease being dealt with in our tables) and 

 of the stags the Forest now contains, it becomes clear that a very 

 great increase of hinds has taken place during recent years, and 

 the fact that stags are rapidly increasing is apparent also. 



135 two-year-old stags should come into July count of 1892, as 

 we had by actual count 177 stag calves alive in Feb., 1890. 

 In Feb., 1879, there were probably about 101 stag calves in the 

 Forest. 



By the table above 136-8 two-year-old stags come into 1892 

 count. 



In 1890 the number of stags, including wasters, shot in Forest, 

 was 52; should that number be shot in 1892, it is obvious that 

 the Forest will have a large gain in 1892. The gain in stags 

 would be 70 (those shot and dead about 67) net gain 70. 

 We are on the threshold of a most interesting and important 

 development of the Forest. 



As for ancient history, I possess a fossil stag's antler, dug up F .. . . 

 in Jura gravel, shewing Jura red-deer to be pre-historic. About 

 40 years ago some Athole deer were introduced perhaps fifteen 

 hinds, and shortly afterwards about a dozen Breadalbane deer, 

 half of which went to Ardlussa. The result of the introduction of 

 new blood was very marked and favourable. About a dozen deer 

 calves were brought fromKildermorie, in 1879. They were nearly all 

 destroyed, unfortunately, but a few of their progeny exist in Jura. 



One big Ross-shire stag was on Gatehouse from a calf: he was 

 killed by another stag when 9! years old. He was a man of war 

 from his youth, having broken his horns as a 3-year-old. He 

 broke them in his last fight. 



Fifty years ago stags were only found in holes and burns, very 

 few of them, and said to carry very strong horns. Knock Break 

 was cleared 50 years ago, and " McLeod's ground" about 20 years 

 later dates about 1840 and 1860, and part of Largy in 1878. 



In 1844, Angus McKay, the late Laird's forester, searched Introduction 

 from Ardfin to Screeb, a distance of eight miles, before he of new blood, 

 could find a stag suitable for the Duke of Argyll's wedding ; he 

 found 4 stags at Screeb, and shot one of them. There were 



