X PREFACE TO THE 



prietors of the various magnificent deer forests in Scotland, 

 I am indebted for the short descriptions I have given of 

 them, and they are inserted nearly as I received them, 

 with a due and lasting sense of the honour and obligation 

 that has been conferred upon me ; the account of the forest 

 of Atholl alone has been put together wholly by myself; 

 with that I am pretty conversant, but not with the others. 

 Whilst I am on this subject, I cannot avoid expressing a 

 regret that the communications sent to me have not done 

 sufficient justice to the scenery they treat of, which in its 

 wild effect, and peculiar determination of character, is ad- 

 mirably suited to the disposition and pursuits of its brave 

 and romantic inhabitants. 



It will be seen how much I am indebted to Mr. Mac- 

 neill of Colonsay, for his very interesting account of the 

 original Scotch greyhound, and for his picturesque de- 

 scription of the novel amusement of deer coursing. I am 

 myself unacquainted with the distinguishing characteristics 

 of the ancient Scotch and Irish greyhound ; but there are 

 still many magnificent dogs in the possession of Scotch 

 gentlemen and chiefs, however they may be descended; 

 and a late celebrated sale will prove how highly some of 

 the present breed are esteemed by the public. 



I have to boast of two poetical contributions, from the 

 Hon. Henry T. Liddell, which appear to me to be exqui- 

 sitely beautiful. Mr. D'Israeli likewise has ornamented 

 my pages with some beautiful lines, paraphrased from a 

 translation from the Gaelic, most obligingly sent to me by 

 the Marquis of Breadalbane. 



To my accomplished friend Mr. Skene, of Rubislaw, I 

 am under very great obligations, not only for some valuable 



