DEER-STALKING IN MARE. 405 



Loch Eatachan on the east shoulder of Bein-muirdhui and 

 Loch-nastirtar in Glenguisachan. 



The principal mountains beginning on the east are Bein 

 aboard, Beinachuirn, Beinavrear, Beinamean, Cairngoruin, 

 Bein Murdhui, Cairnavaim, Breriach, Carmtoul, Bein- 

 avrottan, Cairn-nealler, and Scarrach ; they are all com- 

 posed of granite ; and the general character of their surface 

 is dry and rocky for a considerable way down their sides ; 

 but there are many valleys or corries around their bases 

 containing good rich hill pasture ; and in the low parts of 

 the different glens ore 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 stone imperial, and there have been instances of 

 some of the largest weighing twenty stone. 



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 little disturbance, which this method occasions to the forest, 

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

 description. 



D D 3 



