THE WOLF. 127 



.Seannachan, or " the old field," is directly opposite to PoUocliock. 

 The ten acres, of which it consisted, were entirely destroyed by 

 the "flood" (the Moray floods in August, 1829), and the then 

 owner died of despair. 



There is also another account of a wolf being killed in the High- 

 lands of Scotland later than Sir Bwan Cameron's exploit in 1680, 

 which was also considered to be the last of the race. In a book " The 

 Art of Deer-stalking," * the exciting details are narrated. The erent 

 took place on the east coast of Sutherland, where, in consequence of 

 some ravages among the flocks, the inhabitants turned out in a body 

 to search for the animal. A man named Poison, accompanied by his 

 son and an active herd-boy, resolved to seek for him in the wild 

 recesses of Glenshoth. " Poison was an old hunter, and had much 

 experience in tracing and destroying wolves, and other predatory 

 animals. Forming his own conjectures, he proceeded at once to the 

 wild and rugged ground that surrounds the rocky mountain-gully 

 which forms the channel of the Burn of Sledale. Here, after a 

 minute investigation, he discovered a narrow fissure in the midst 

 of a confused mass of large fragments of rock, which, upon 

 examination, he had reason to think might lead to a larger open- 

 ing or cavern below, which the wolf might use as his den. Stones 

 were now thrown down, and other means resorted to, to rouse 

 any animal that might be lurking within. Nothing formidable 

 appearing, the two lads contrived to squeeze themselves through 

 the fissure, that they might examine the interior, whilst Poison 

 kept guard on the outside. The boys descended through the 

 narrow passage into a small cavern, which was evidently a wolf's 

 den, for the ground was covered with bones and horns of animals, 

 feathers, and egg-shells ; and the dark space was somewhat en- 

 livened by five or six active wolf-cubs. Not a little dubious of 

 the event, the voices of the poor boys came up hollow and anxious 

 from below, communicating this intelligence. Poison at once I 

 desired them to do their best, and to destroy the cubs. Soon 

 after he heard the feeble howling of the whelps as they were 

 attacked below, and saw, almost at the same time, to his great 

 » "The Art of Deer-stalking ; illustrated by a Narrative of a Few Days' Sport in 

 the Forest of Atholl," by William Sorope, Esq., F.L.S., and Member of the Academy 

 of San' Luca, Eome. London, 1838. 



