ANIMALS INTRODUCED FOR AMENITY 293 



Canobie parish, which abuts against Cumberland, and 

 crossing Dumfriesshire in 23 years, appeared in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the town of Dumfries in 1860. In that or the 

 following year they had crossed the march into Kirkcud- 

 brightshire, and in 1869 had penetrated to the south of that 

 county. Four years later they crossed the Cree into Wig- 

 townshire, and there in 1892 were recorded by Sir Herbert 

 Maxwell as "now becoming plentiful." 



(3) Three separate introductions stocked Ayrshire one 

 about 1866 at Mauchline, the second a somewhat mythical 

 importation " by navvies" on the Water of Ayr about 1870, 

 and the third two years later by the butler of the Marquis of 

 Ailsa. The influence of the Ayrshire centres, however, was 

 limited by the western extensions of the Lowther Hills, 

 as well as by contact with the armies advancing westwards 

 from the eastern centres of Houghton, Minto and Dalkeith. 



In 1872 Squirrels were set free on Bute but they 

 eventually died out. 



IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS 



Comparable to Dalkeith in the extent of the area it has 

 affected is the centre of Dunkeld, in Perthshire, whither prior 

 to 1793, Squirrels were imported by the 4th Duke of Athole 

 probably from Scandinavia. Hence their southward course 

 lay most open, and with speed they flowed down the valley 

 of the Tay, Methven being reached in 1812, and the Carse 

 of Gowrie ten years later. Westwards they made slow pro- 

 gress, owing, one must infer, to the absence of plantations 

 suitable for shelter and food. Woods were planted at Glenal- 

 mond only after 1825 and in 1834 Squirrels appeared here. 

 Nevertheless they formed colonies along the upper valleys 

 of the Tay and its tributaries till the mountain barrier of the 

 southern Grampians checked their march. 



Their northward advance, also, seems to have been 

 checked by the Grampians. Not till 1841 were they es- 

 tablished at Blair Athole, while following the plain of 

 Strathmore, as did the Capercaillie a few years later, they 

 appeared at Glamis in 1833, and reached Brechin in 1844. 

 Thence they passed across the North Esk, and traversed 

 Kincardine probably on two routes, one leading by the coast 

 (Dunottar woods, 1847) towards the lower Dee, the other by 



