LONGEVITY OF DEEK. 25 



indeed, seems to be most probable) that, as the old fo- 

 rester'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 super- 

 stition 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 eich ; 

 Tri avis eich, avis duine ; 

 Tri avis duine, avis feidh ; 

 Tri avis feidh, avis firean ; 

 Tri avis firean, avis craobh dharaich." 



Thus it stands in English : 



Thrice the age of a dog is that of a horse ; 

 Thrice the age of a horse is that of a man ; 

 Thrice the age of a man is that of a deer ; 

 Thrice the age of a deer is that of an eagle ; 

 Thrice the age of an eagle is that of an oak-tree. 



Setting aside the extravagance of this adage, I venture 

 to mention that, according to tradition, Captain Mac- 

 donald, of Tulloch, in Lochaber *, who died in 1776, at 

 the age of eighty-six, knew the white hind of Lochtreig 

 for the last fifty years of his life ; his father knew her an 

 equal length of time before him; and his grandfather 

 knew her for sixty years of his own time ; and she preceded 

 his days. These three gentlemen were all keen deer- 

 stalkers. Many of the Lochaber and Brae Kannoch men 

 knew her also. She was purely white, without spot or 

 blemish was never seen alone and tradition furnishes 

 no instance of any shot having been fired at the herd with 

 which she associated. 



* Communicated by Mr. Macgregor. 



