SHORT ACCOUNT OF COUL. 293 



mentioned, as capable of being made, by the exclusion of 

 sheep, a sure resort for red deer. 



From the Freevater forest, the deer have long since 

 straggled into the large fir woods in Easter Ross, which are 

 in the neighbourhood of Balnagown Castle, and Calrossie, 

 and though they may wander, in many instances, between 

 these woods and their original forest, they have now com- 

 pletely established themselves there, dwelling and feeding 

 amid much interruption from the proximity of population, 

 for which, however, experience has shown that the red deer, 

 in the shelter of his woods, care but little. 



To the west of the Freevater forest there remains of Ross, 

 or rather of Cromarty shire, the wild district of Coigach, a 

 part of the Cromarty estate, and the property of the Honour- 

 able Mrs. Hay Mackenzie ; and the cleer-stalker, who loves 

 the sport in perfection, will be glad to learn that the son of 

 this lady has devoted a considerable part of Coigach as a 

 forest for the deer ; intending to build a lodge there, at 

 Rhidorach, a situation of much natural beauty. 



The isles of Lewis and Harris contain a large number of 

 deer ; and in the former, Sir Frederick Johnstone, Bart., 

 who rents the game, has, together with his friends, done 

 great execution ; but these deer, I am told, are inferior in 

 size, existing, as they do, in an ungenial and unproductive 

 country, though the climate is fitter perhaps for raising their 

 food than that of man. 



A SHORT ACCOUNT OF COUL. 



[Obligingly Communicated by SIR GEORGE STUART MACKENZIE, BART., 

 the Proprietor.] 



THERE are few country residences so favourably situated 

 for sport as Coul. Between breakfast and dinner time you 

 may have amusement with every kind of game, except 

 ptarmigan, which are too remote. I have myself, says the 

 proprietor, brought in a couple of salmon, and a stag has 

 been shot, both within an hour after leaving the house. 

 The increase in the numbers of red and roe deer has been 



