40 DAYS OF DEER-STALKING. 



Setting aside the absurd story of the stag taken by 

 Charles the Sixth, let us see if there be any modern proof 

 that may throw light upon this subject. 



In the year 1826, the late Glengarry, accompanied by 

 Lord Fincastle, now Earl of Dunmore, was hunting in the 

 Garth of Glengarry ; the beaters had been sent into a 

 wood, called Tor-na-carry ; a fine stag soon broke forth, 

 and was going straight to Lord Fincastle, but owing to a 

 slight swell, or change of the current of air, he turned 

 towards Glengarry, who fired at, and killed him. 



On going up to him a mark was discovered on his left 

 ear ; trie first man who arrived was asked, " What mark it 

 was?" He replied, "That it was the mark of E wen-mac- 

 Jan Og." Five others gave the same answer ; and after 

 consulting together, all agreed that Ewen-mac-Jan Og had 

 been dead 150 years, and for thirty years before his death 

 had marked all the calves he could catch with this particu- 

 lar mark ; so that this deer (allowing the mark to have 

 been authentic) must have been 150 years old, and might 

 have been 180. The horns, which are preserved by the 

 present Glengarry, are not particularly large, but have a 

 very wide spread. 



Now this circumstance is clearly and honourably attested; 

 it was communicated to me both by the late and present 

 Glengarry ; we must, therefore, either subscribe at once to 

 this longevity, or we must imagine (what indeed seems to 

 be most probable), that as the old forester's mark was 

 evidently known to the hill-men, some of his successors 

 might have imitated it, without the sanction or knowledge 

 of their chief. 



However this may be, it is notorious that no superstition 

 is more prevalent amongst certain classes in the Highlands, 

 than that which regards the longevity of deer. Hence the 

 following adage : 



" Tri avis coin, avis eicli ; 

 Tri avis eich, avis duine ; 

 Tri avis duine, avis feidh ; 

 Til avis feidh, avis firean ; 

 Tri avis firean, avis craobh dharaich. " 



Thus it stands in English : 



