29G FORESTS OF SCOTLAND. 



Ault-More, or the Big Burn, is picturesquely wooded; and, as 

 well as Ault-Beg, or the Little Burn, is a favourite retreat 

 of the denizens of the forest. The mosses are everywhere 

 remarkably fertile, and contain innumerable lochs ; even 

 the highest hills afford good pasture, and are scattered over 

 with the sea-daisy and other plants. The corries and burn 

 sides are still more rich and verdant. 



The numerous lochs in this forest are not only oramental, 

 but valuable for their produce. Loch Coir-Attadale, which 

 empties itself by means of the excellent fishing river 

 of Applecross, is stocked both with loch and sea-trout. 

 Loch Gannich, Loch Na-creig, and Loch Na-long, are like- 

 wise amply furnished with the same delicacies, and many 

 of the smaller lakes derive their names from the size and 

 quality of the fish which they contain. The hills in this 

 fine district are strikingly picturesque, and nothing can 

 surpass the beauty of the strath of Applecross. 



The deer forest was established about seventy years ago ; 

 the quantity of deer it contains at present cannot well be 

 ascertained, but it has been represented to me as very great. 

 They are scattered over their favourite hill sides in such 

 numbers, that when put in motion, and scampering away, 

 they give a character and animation to the scenery quite 

 in keeping with the magnitude of the objects around them. 



The anecdotes, which have been obligingly sent me 

 relating to the sports in this forest, are such only as 

 are of usual occurrence. They use the rough stag-hound, or 

 lurcher of the country for wounded deer. 



I have received no general account of the weight of these 

 deer ; but, judging from the size of others on the western 

 coast, I am inclined to estimate it at a high rate, particularly 

 as it is recorded that Thomas, the first laird of Applecross 

 of that name, killed two stags a few years before his death, 

 that had been destroying the corn a short distance from 

 the mansion-house, whose weight was sixty pounds the 

 quarter. 



