In 1878 we think Forest held 525 stags, among them a Two counts of 

 large supply of faded stags. In 1889 we think Forest held 581 ^| ag e s arsa art 

 stags (count 534) and little faded material. We shot Forest 

 rather severely for the first few years, but we took off a great deal 

 of faded material ; so it is certain that Forest gives a promise of 

 better things to come, and that very soon. 



The extreme variations of our nine recorded counts of stags in Variations in 

 Forest is 208. We know that one count was too high and that SJjJ* 11 f 

 another was too low. The extreme variation of our 12 estimates 

 is 152 (1889 is 581 1884 is 429). The extreme variation in 

 Forest stags' deaths is 41 (47 dead 1881 6 dead 1887). The 

 extreme variation in Forest hinds' deaths is 44 (55 dead 1881 

 ii dead 1887). We have added one more to every 10 dead 

 hinds found ; their bodies are less certain to be found than stags. 

 The extreme variation in Forest calves found dead in spring is 63 variations in 



(79 found 1 88 1 1 6 found 1886). We add largely to the calves cleat s of 



Deer not 

 found dead in Forest for our estimates of deer. The extreme serious inStags 



variation thus becomes 96 (120 supposed dead 188124 in 1886). or Hmds - 

 The death of stags is not alarming, especially during the last 5 

 years. The death of hinds is curiously light it compares very 

 favourably with the death of stags. I think it amazingly small 



considering that no old hinds are shot. But the death of calves Serious varia- 



. . tionsm death 



on some occasions has been very disquieting; it appears to have of Calves. 



reached 55 per cent. (1881) and to have fallen as low as 9 per 

 cent. (1886). We are sadly ignorant of the causes of these great 

 variations, but we are very suspicious about husk disease being 

 the chief cause. The late Duke of Portland lost above half his 



herd of red-deer at Welbeck from husk. The park keeper gave Husk perhaps 



the cause. 

 me strongylus micrurus as the name of the parasite. This was 



about nine years ago, probably the year 1881. 



We did not count Forest stags in 1878 ; we guess them at 525. 

 At that time stags had not taken to the glen and low ground of 

 Largy, so they were less spread than at present, and looked more 

 than their number. In 1879 we know the lost count of Forest was 

 about 500, because Murchison remembers Angus McKay (senior) 

 so firmly holding and expressing the opinion (formed without data) 

 that it was impossible there could be 500 stags in Forest. The 

 count of 1880 is lost (except for Tarbert), and count of 1881 was 

 inaccurate clearly. I think our estimates are pretty true to fact. 



