THE WOLF. 165 



infested by the rabid droves, that they were almost 

 impassable.* 



In 1528 the Earl of A thole entertained the king, 

 James V., with a great hunt which lasted three 

 days. " It is said, at this tyme, in Atholl and 

 Stratherdaill boundis, thair was slaine threttie scoir 

 of hart and hynd, with other small beasties, sich as 

 roe and roebuck, Woulff, fox, and wild cattis."t 



A story is told of one John Eldar, a clergyman of 

 Caithness, who on the death of James V. journeyed 

 to England to present to Henry VIII. a project for the 

 union of the two kingdoms. Being asked to ex- 

 plain the meaning of the name " redshanks," at that 

 time given to the Highlanders, he said, " They call 

 us in Scotland, ' redshanks,' please it your Majesty 

 to understand, that we of all people can tolerate, 

 suffer, and away best with cold : for both summer 

 and winter (except when the frost is most vehement) 

 going always bare-legged and bare-footed, our de- 

 light and pleasure is in hunting of red deer, Wolves, 

 foxes, and grajes [badgers] whereof we abound and 

 have great plenty. Therefore, in so much as we use 

 and delight so to go always, the tender, delicate 

 gentlemen of Scotland call us 'redshanks. '"J 



Harrison, who wrote in Elizabeth's time, says that 

 though the English " may safelie boast of their 

 securitie in respect to wild animals, yet cannot the 

 Scots do the like in everie point within their king- 



* Stuart's " Lays of the Deer Forest," vol. ii. pp. 231, 232. 

 f Eobert Lindsay, " Chronicles of Scotland," ii. p. 346. 

 X Pinkerton's "History of Scotland," ii. p. 396. 



M 2 



