THE RARER ANIMALS OF SCOTLAND. 21 
1880, p. 218). In Glen Nevis it is verging on extinction, and very 
few have been killed within the last ten or twelve years. One 
was killed in 1878 in Ben Alder Forest, three miles from Loch 
Erroch Lodge. 
Rosshire and East Cromarty.—In Rosshire the Wild Cat is 
still abundant in the wilder portions, especially in the west of the 
county. I possess much interesting matter, kindly placed at my 
disposal by correspondents; but, for the reasons given under 
Invernesshire, I think it undesirable to communicate them. One 
correspondent, who has seen many specimens of the true Wild 
Cat, writes, ‘‘ The largest I ever saw was forty-three inches long 
from nose to tip of tail.” In East Rosshire, however, it is probably 
approaching extinction. The last killed of which I have record 
was by Mr. A. MacDonald about seven years ago (say 1873). It 
was thought rare at that time. ‘‘One blow behind the ear settled 
him.” In Strathconan they still exist, but are very scarce, whereas 
ten or fifteen years ago they were very plentiful. Mr. F. D. 
Godman, in a letter to me, incidentally mentions a Wild-Cat- 
inhabited cairn on a shooting at Killellan, on Loch Alsh, Rosshire, 
and he found there a litter of Wild Cats which had been washed 
out and drowned by heavy rains and a thunderstorm. He does 
not, however, mention the date beyond “‘ some years ago.” 
Sutherland.— Wild Cats are still far from being exterminated, 
and are still not uncommon in deer forests. The Duke desires 
to preserve them, and few are willingly killed, at least in his own 
Forest of Dunrobin. During hard winter-weather five years ago 
(about 1875) a very large one was caught within the precincts of 
the town of Golspie. Between the place where it was caught and 
the moorland, there were two miles of cultivated land, high road, 
woodyard, and garden. It had dug a hole under the floor of a 
lumber shed, and had there stored up six hens. The Rev. James 
M. Joass, who informed me of its capture, which took place not 
far from his house in Golspie, adds :—“It was brought to me 
fresh out of the trap and bleeding. It is now in the museum at 
Dunrobin, and the largest specimen there—a full-grown male, 
with perfect teeth and tail of the undoubtedly wild type.” 
Another was killed, whilst swimming in Loch Brora, by a woman. 
Rev. Dr. Joass writes as follows:—‘‘A woman walking towards 
Brora, on the Carril side of the loch, saw the cat in the water 
coming as if from the Gordonbush side, where there is a farm- 
