Mr Harvie-Brown on the Sqidrrel in Great Britain. 133 



Wigtownshire, 



I have received, up to date of 1879, abundance of negative 

 evidence from this county. The squirrel as yet is unknown, 

 or next to unknown, in the county. 



In 1873 also, they are reported to have reached to the 

 Wigtown Border on the banks of the Cree, as a few were seen 

 that year in Cumloden wood, parish of Minnigaff, opposite to 

 Penninghame, in Wigtown. 



Bute. 



An unsuccessful introduction was made in Bute, about 

 seven years ago, by Lord Bute. Mr John Wilson informs 

 me that it is believed they are all dead. 



Ayrshire Centres. 



INTRODUCTION AND EXTENSION IN AYRSHIRE. 



The history of the squirrel in Ayrshire, as far as I am able 

 to learn, is as follows. 



There is no mention of it in the " Statistical Account " of 

 the county (1845). In 1867 it is said not to be found in 

 Ayrshire.* 



I am able exactly to place the introduction of the squirrel 

 in North Ayrshire. Mr David Landsborough informs me 

 that Mr Taylor, factor at Barskimming, Mauchline, brought 

 a pair of them from Dumfriesshire thirteen years ago — say 

 1866. One soon made its escape (presumably the female), 

 and afterwards, Mr Taylor began to hear of the squirrel being 

 seen in Barskimming woods, where before long they became 

 abundant. Novj they are abundant in Barskimming woods, 

 and prove a great nuisance. They are also abundant in Dun- 

 donald and Eglinton woods. 



In the Hunterian Museum there is a squirrel which was 

 presented by Mr Allan Walker, Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, in 1869 ; 

 and Mr John Young informs me that Mr A. Walker was a 

 medical student, and his father w^as then medical practitioner 

 at Kilbirnie. The ticket states that it is in its autumn coat, 



* "Zoologist," 1867, p. 668. 



