WILD BOAE AND EEIN-DEER. 305 



different glens are haughs of rich natural grass, which, in 

 Glenluie and Glenquoich, are well sheltered by very 

 extensive tracts of natural pine wood : there is also a con- 

 siderable proportion of mossy ground interspersed over the 

 whole. 



The Glenluie was cleared of sheep and cattle, &c., and 

 turned into a forest upwards of sixty years ago, and the 

 other glens at different and more recent periods. 



The number of deer in the forest must vary to a great 

 extent according to circumstances ; but it is supposed that 

 there may be a regular stock of about three thousand. 



The weight of the best stags may run from fourteen to 

 eighteen stones imperial, and there have been instances of 

 some of the largest weighing twenty stones. 



In this forest the deer are for the most part killed by 

 stalking, and getting quiet shots, and not by driving them 

 to passes, or coursing them with dogs, except when wounded.* 



The breed of deer-hounds chiefly in use is the rough 

 wire-haired Scotch or Irish greyhound. 



The present Earl of Fife has tried many spirited experi- 

 ments by the introduction of different animals into this 

 celebrated forest. He brought over capercalies from the 

 north, and they increased to the number of twelve ; but 

 when the place was let, and the birds were removed, they 

 soon died. He has now procured two more old ones ; and 

 has succeeded, I am told, in rearing up another brood. The 

 wild boar also was introduced at the advice of the Mar- 

 grave of Anspach, who was at Marr Lodge for a fortnight, 

 but the experiment did not answer for want of acorns, 

 which are their principal food ; if these animals, however, 

 were turned out young, the ant-hills, which abound in the 

 forest, might probably be an efficient substitute. Rein- 

 deer were also introduced by his lordship, but they all 

 died, notwithstanding one of them was turned out on the 

 summits, which are covered with dry moss, on which it was 

 supposed they would be able to subsist. In spite of these 

 failures, Lord Fife wished to see if the chamois would live 



* The little disturbance which this method occasions to the forest keeps 

 the deer from wandering, though the sport is of a less brilliant description. 



