10 PREFACE. 



prietors of the various magnificent deer forests in Scotland, 

 I am indebted for the short descriptions I have given of 

 them, and they are inserted nearly as I received them, 

 with a due and lasting sense of the honour and obligation 

 that has been conferred upon me ; the account of the forest 

 of Atholl alone has been put together wholly by myself; 

 with that I am pretty conversant, but not with the others. 

 Whilst I am on this subject, I cannot avoid expressing a 

 regret that the communications sent to me have not done 

 sufficient justice to the scenery they treat of, which in its 

 wild effect, and peculiar determination of character, is 

 admirably suited to the disposition and pursuits of its 

 brave and romantic inhabitants. 



It will be seen how much I am indebted to Mr. Macneill, 

 of Colonsay, for his very interesting account of the original 

 Scotch greyhound, and for his picturesque description of 

 the novel amusement of deer-coursing. I am myself 

 unacquainted with the distinguishing characteristics of the 

 ancient Scotch and Irish greyhound; but there are still 

 many magnificent dogs in the possession of Scotch gentle- 

 men and chiefs, however they may be descended ; and a 

 late celebrated sale will prove how highly some of the 

 present breed are esteemed by the public. 



I have to boast of two poetical contributions, from the 



