THE RARER ANIMALS OF SCOTLAND. 5 



Forest,' where it is stated that many were killed at Tarnaway in the 

 violent floods of 1827 (' Lays of the Deer Forest,' vol. ii., p. 268), 

 so graphically described by Sir Thomas Dick Lauder (' Account of 

 the Moray Floods).' It is now scarce, and indeed has been for a 

 good many years- They still exist in Darnaway Woods, and 

 seventeen years ago, at Dairy, they were numerous, and Mr. 

 Grant, keeper there at that time, kept a lot of rough-haired 

 terriers on purpose to hunt them. The last killed at Dairy was 

 about four years ago (say 1876). In the Keith district the last 

 killed was a sow, along with four young, which were trapped upon 

 Keith Lodge shooting about thirteen years ago (say 1868). 

 Speaking of Badgers at Dairy, Mr. Grant teUs me of one Badger 

 which became so tame that it followed one about like a dog, and 

 use to go out with the shooting party regularly, and keep close 

 at their heels like a terrier. It would not, however, take the 

 water, and, when they crossed a certain burn, it used to run along 

 the bank until it came to a foot-bridge, when it would cross and 

 follow on their track like a dog. Captain Dunbar Brander 

 recollects the Badger as very abundant in Elgin forty years 

 ago. He has a distinct remembrance of no less than five 

 earths within a radius of three miles of his house. These 

 earths now are occupied only by rabbits, and the last Badger 

 occurred there in 1854 or 1855, when in company of the late 

 Mr. Charles St. John, author of ' The Highland Sports,' &c, he 

 saw one dug out. 



Aberdeenshire. — In the Don Valley the only Badgers in the 

 district at present are strictly preserved by the proprietor. The 

 locality is pretty far up the river, but it is not necessary to 

 name it. In the Dee Valley they are not quite so scarce, but 

 they are far from numerous. In Glen Tanar, Dee Valley, ten 

 Badgers have been trapped or otherwise obtained between 1870 

 and 1880. It is reported as not yet quite extinct in the north- 

 east of Aberdeenshire, being still found on one or two properties. 

 On most of the lower reaches of the Dee it is probably verging 

 on extinction, if not indeed already extinct. Long ago they were 

 present at Crathes. Until six years ago, however (say 1874), 

 Badgers were to be seen, and some were frequently killed in the 

 woods of Hazelhead, about three miles west of Aberdeen. The 

 last seen there, of which Mr. George Sim has any knowledge, 

 were a male and female which had taken refuge in a waterlade, 



