296 FOREST OX BLAIR. 



the aged harts feed and lie on the tops and 

 sides of high lulls, in order to have the ad- 

 vantage of the wind, being very fearful of 

 men and dogs ; the hinds are mostly in the 

 valleys with their calves, and a few straggling 

 harts among them, 



\ 



I had the honour to attend the Duke of 



Athol on an excursion into his extensive forest 

 in August, 1 805, and shall here attempt to 

 describe the manner of his grace's sport: 

 when he first alights from his horse the ser- 

 vants present him with telescopes, by the 

 use of which, looking on the mountains' 

 sides, or in the valleys, it is easy to distin- 

 guish every hart, hind or calf; and I may 

 venture to say that in eight hours not fewer 

 have been perceived than from three to four 

 thousand head, young and old, in a corner 

 of the forest ; and were it possible to go over 

 it in one day, I am confident a man might 

 see, at least, ten thousand deer. 



When his grace espies the harts lying 



