1909-1910-] The Red Deer, &c., in Glen Garry Forest. 185 



mother immediately joined it, and the farmer and his steed 

 escaped. 



In warm sunny days the wild cat is fond of getting up a 

 birch-tree and lying out full length along one of the limbs, 

 its tail hangiug down. I know those who have come across 

 it suddenly in such positions, and they have told me that they 

 thought it was discreet to retire as quickly as possible. I 

 was warned to be careful during my wanderings among the 

 birch woods, but — fortunately or unfortunately, according to 

 different points of view — I did not come across the wild cat 

 in its native haunts. I visited these places and made careful 

 search, and, under guidance, saw where they lived and bred, 

 but the wild cats were not so obliging as to make their appear- 

 ance. About twenty years ago many naturalists thought it 

 had been killed off as a native wild species, or at least was 

 upon the verge of extinction, so few were the notices that 

 appeared regarding it. Fortunately that opinion was incorrect, 

 as it still exists in considerable numbers over a wide district, 

 principally along the West Coast from Lochaber and Morven 

 northwards. In the late spring, and during summer and early 

 autumn, it generally lives high up the mountain-sides ; but at 

 other periods of the year it frequents the valleys and lower 

 stretches of the mountains. Its habits in this respect are no 

 doubt regulated to a large extent by the question of food- 

 supplies. It is fond of rabbits, but captures many grouse 

 and other game-birds, especially during the breeding season. 

 The wild cat is therefore not a welcome guest on an ordinary 

 shooting ; but in a deer forest, where it is undesirable to have 

 winged game, which many a time fly off in front of the 

 stalkers and spoil the sport, they are not looked upon with 

 so much disfavour. However, even in a deer forest they are 

 not free from the attentions of the trapper, as a certain 

 value attaches to their skins, which are generally the per- 

 quisite of the foresters on whose beat of the forest they 

 are found. 



My own opinion is that the wild cat has increased in 

 numbers in Scotland during recent years, which is no doubt 

 largely owing to the instructions issued by proprietors and 

 factors for its preservation. 



The Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetus) is a majestic bird 



