156 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



Inverary — informs me that the squirrel was introduced from 

 England to the woods of IMinard by a Mr Asken, who re- 

 sided at Minard Castle a long time ago. He brought the 

 squirrel and the rabbit there about thirty-two years ago — say 

 1847. Mr MacPherson has been told — and believes — that 

 the squirrels dispersed from Minard woods as their centre. 

 In about six years — say 1855 — [another account says 1853] 

 they reached Inverary. Fourteen years ago (1865) three 

 were seen in Glenorchy at Stronmealachair, north of the 

 Orchy River, and about the same time one was seen at Coille- 

 nach-Eirriden, south of Port-nach-Errich on the east side of 

 Loch Awe. 



It was some time before they were found in the country 

 lying between Loch Etive on the north, and the lower end 

 of Loch Awe. They appear only to have reached the woods 

 of Glenmore, near Kilmel fort, this spring (1879). I have, 

 however, a record of one squirrel having been seen at Bar- 

 breck in the spring of 1870. 



The Piev. A. Stewart of Ballachulish informs me that he 

 has a note to the effect that " the late Campbell of Monzie 

 shot two squirrels in the woods of Inverawe between Loch 

 Etive and Loch Awe about 1860. The exact date he pro- 

 bably could not tell me, for otherwise it would almost of a 

 certainty be found in my jottings at that time, which it is not." 



The dispersal appears to have followed the lines thus indi- 

 cated, pushing northwards most rapidly, via Cladich, to the 

 localities in Glenorchy, and thence descending the Pass of 

 Brander, — a branch stream turning southward at Cladich — 

 whilst another army more slowly advanced westward from 

 Minard, and rounded the lower end of Loch Awe, reaching 

 Barbreck in 1870, and Glenmore woods not till 1879. The 

 squirrels which descended the Pass of Brander appear to 

 have detached colonists at the Bridge of Awe at a late 

 date, which, turning back along the south side of the Awe, 

 reached the woods of New Inverawe in the year 1870, when 

 I learned that the first one was seen. When staying at 

 Taycreggan this spring (1879) I had tliis route confirmed by 

 the general impression in the district, that squirrels at New 

 Inverawe and Haymount came up from the Bridge of Awe. 



