90 EXTINCT BRITISH ANIMALS. 



occupied the east coast of Scotland, Mucros — muc in 

 their language, which was the CeJ.tic or Gaelic, signi- 

 fying a sow or boar, and ros a peninsula or promon- 

 tory. The correctness of this derivation is said to be 

 confirmed by the fact that near the extremity of the 

 parish the village of Boarhills still retains the 

 original name of the district, but translated into the 

 modern language. Boethius, however, states (fol. 

 272) that the land in question was given to the See 

 of St. Andrews by Alexander the First about 11 24, 

 and was named "the Boar's chase" (cursus apri) in 

 consequence of an enormous Boar, which had done 

 great damage in the neighbourhood, having been 

 pursued and eventually killed there.* He further 

 adds that its huge tusks, measuring twelve inches 

 long, and three in their greatest width, were pre- 

 served as trophies, and chained to the high altar of 

 St. Andrews.! His words are : — " Auxit [Alexander] 

 quoque facultates sacrce cedis D. Andrece, cum aliis 

 quibusdam prcediis, turn eo agro cui nomen est 'Apri 

 cursus,' ah apro immensi magnitudinis, qui edita honii- 

 num et pecorum ingenti strage, scepe nequicquam a 

 venatoribus, magna ipsorum pericuh, petitus, tandem 

 ab armata multitudine invasus, per kunc agrum pro- 

 fugiens confossus est." He adds : — "JSastant immanis 

 hujus bellua indicia, dentes, quos maxillis exsertos 

 habent, admirandce magnitudinis hngitudinis enini 



* See also Spotswood, " Hist. Church of Scotland" (1665), p. 134; 

 and Martine, "Beliquiaa Divi Andrese" (1797), p. 94. 



t " New Statist. Acot. Scotland," vol. ix. p. 449. The arms of the 

 city of St. Andrews represent a boar leaning against a tree. 



