THE RARER ANIMALS OF SCOTLAND. 85 
severity of the weather, it was forced to leave its northern hills, 
and followed the winding of one of the tributaries of the Tay to 
the lowlands, and when caught was probably trying to go back, 
but took the wrong stream.” We must, however, in this connec- 
tion, consider the two seen at the base of Ben Vorlich about 1877, 
as related above by Mr. Colquhoun. It has been extinct for 
twenty-five years, or since 1855, around Dupplin. One was killed 
on Lyndoch Estate by Mr. Grass, keeper of the late Lord 
Lyndoch, about 1845, or a little earlier. The tree on which 
it was shot is still called “ the Wild Cat Tree,” a large spruce on 
the road between Monedie and Pitcairney. Some were killed 
about twenty-five years ago on Balquhidder (say 1855), but it is 
supposed to be extinct now. In the Cailander district “ the 
baited traps have exterminated them.” It has never been seen or 
heard of in the neighbourhood of Cromlix by the keeper, who has 
been there more than twenty years. At the date of the ‘ Old 
Statistical Account of Scotland’ they were included as frequenting 
the parish of Comrie, and also Weem. Curiously enough, since 
the above was penned, news reached me of another killed on 
Stronvar, in Balquhidder, which will be found recorded in the 
‘Field’ of 17th April, 1880. It was obtained by one of the keepers 
early in that month. Thus both of the two seen on Ben Vorlich, 
as reported by Mr. Colquhoun wt. sup., are probably accounted for. 
Have they left any young ones behind them, or are these the last, 
until some unusually severe winter drives others to wander south 
again? Between Glen Almond and Glen Queich, about thirty 
years ago, some were killed, for Mr. J. Anderson remembers seeing 
them hanging up amongst vermin in the “‘ gamekeeper’s museum.” 
This would be about 1850. In 1867 Mr. Dewar, keeper at 
Remony, killed a fine male, yellow-breasted, which is now in 
his collection at Finlarig, near Killin. None had been seen, 
according to Mr. Dewar, previously, since 1840, when one was 
killed by him at Remony, south side of Loch Tay; but Mr. 
Mackie, formerly keeper on Breadalbane, killed one about two 
miles from Loch Tay, at the falls of ? about eighteen 
years ago (say 1862). It was at that time rare in the district, and 
people came a long way to see it. Mackie had noticed the tracks 
of some animal about the rocks, but could not make out what it 
_was; he therefore set some traps, without bait, and got the 
Marten-cat. This is the last Mackie has heard of in that district. 
