30 REVIVAL OF PRIMITIVE FAUNA 



and yew to prove how greatly the character of the land 

 has changed during man's occupation. But during the 

 present century much has been done in the way of 

 plantations ; and it is interesting to observe, still more 

 interesting to assist, the return of some of the wild 

 creatures to their ancient heritage. 



Squirrels have found their way back across the tree- 

 less Galloway uplands within the last dozen of years. 

 Possibly their reappearance may be due to the escape 

 of captives; anyhow, here they are in considerable 

 numbers, and they are looked on by woodmen with 

 feelings not altogether friendly. They are mischievous, 

 no doubt, eating the shoots and leaders of young pines ; 

 but who would judge harshly a creature with such 

 bright eyes and such engaging manners ? 



Badgers, formerly plentiful, as attested by many 

 ancient names of places containing the syllable 

 'brock,' 1 had quite disappeared, but an importation 

 of five from Berkshire about twelve years ago has 

 produced a numerous progeny. There would be risk 

 of arousing angry feelings by any proposal to restore 

 our polecats, which I remember seeing trapped in 

 my boyhood. There is probably not one in the whole 

 district now, though they, too, have their names em- 

 balmed in the Celtic topography of the south-west : 

 witness such a name as Corriefecklach that is, coire 

 feacolach, the corrie of the polecat or stinking one. 



i The name for the badger broe is the same in Gaelic as in Anglo- 

 Saxon ; hence Brockley, near London, means the same as Brocklach 

 and Carsenabrock in Galloway. 



