Mr Harvie-Broiun 07i the Sqimrel in Great Britain. 149 



We have no sufficiently accurate data available to show, 

 however, that any increase of the species in Forfarshire was 

 due to any of the above introductions ; indeed we have, I 

 think, sufficient proof that the population of the county was 

 due to a natural extension from the Duke of Athole's planta- 

 tions, and most of my correspondents appear to be of this 

 opinion. In 1833, we find they had reached Glamis, but were 

 rare then, and by 1843, they were plentiful,* and are reported 

 from parishes of Euthven f and Airlie J [" where they have 

 made their appearance within the last twenty years, and are 

 now very common"]; also in Kinnettles, "though seldom to be 

 seen in some adjoining parishes."§ Eastwards it had reached 

 Inverarity, of which locality the authors write : " The small 

 squirrel not mentioned in the former account (* Old Stat. 

 Account '), is found on Fotheringham Hill." || North-eastward 

 we find record of them in Careston parish,1T but nowhere else 

 in the county at this date. In a very full list of the quadru- 

 peds of Kirriemuir parish by Mr Kinloch of Kilry, it is not 

 included.** 



No doubt in some cases they have been overlooked by the 

 writers of the "New Stat. Account." Still, the lines of 

 advance indicated by these records are those which it would 

 be most natural for them to follow, and they would not 

 penetrate so rapidly northward through the hilly country, 

 and the glens, which have only been planted with wood 

 in comparatively recent years. Thus, I am informed, there 

 was no wood in Glenshee till within the last fifty or sixty 

 years. Mr Paterson of Dalnaglar considers that even now 

 the winters are too severe for the squirrels, " and that they 

 leave Glenshee when winter sets in, and retire down to the 

 lower districts, at least they are not seen till May, except in 

 very early seasons." 



I lack accurate records from the northern parts of Forfarshire, 

 but under Aberdeenshire it will be seen that they entered that 

 county, coming from Perth and Forfarshire about 1S56 or so. 



* " New Stat. Acct.," Forfar, p. 343. 



+ Op. cit, p. 414. J Ojh cit, p. 676. 



§ Op. cit., p. 212. II Op. cit., p. 223. 



H Op. cit., p. .523. ** Op. cit., p. 167. 



