GATHERING IN OF THE DEER. 409 



THE FOREST OF CORRICHIBAH. 



THE forest of Corrichibah, or the Black Mount, is 

 situated in the district of Glenorchy, in Argyllshire. 



It appears from the Black Book (an old manuscript at 

 Taymouth), and from other documents, to have been kept 

 as a deer forest from a very early period, till about the 

 time when, by the introduction of sheep on the Highland 

 hills, the value of mountain pasture became considerably 

 increased. At that period it ceased to be used as a forest, 

 and was turned into sheep farms, in which state it con- 

 tinued till the year 1820, when it was again converted 

 into a forest by the present Marquis of Breadalbane. 



The number of deer was at that time very small indeed, 

 and these were scattered over a very wide district of 

 country ; namely, from the western extremity of Loch 

 Rannoch to the head of Loch Etive on one side, and from 

 Glencoe to Ben Aulder and Loch Eroch on the other; 

 at this time it is not supposed that the stock of deer could 

 have exceeded one hundred head. No sooner, however, 

 was a part of Corrichibah kept clear from sheep, than these 

 deer gathered in ; and the number now in Lord Bread- 

 albane's forest cannot be computed at less than 1,500. 

 The extent of ground strictly kept for deer is about 35,000 

 acres. It extends on the north side from the western 



