2010 Quadrupeds. 



Notes on the Quadrupeds and Birds of the Northern Districts of Inverness-shire. . 

 By Archibald Hepburn, Esq. 



Having lately returned from visiting some of the most wild and romantic scenery 

 lying to the north of the Caledonian canal, and in the county of Inverness, I have 

 been induced to communicate these meagre wayside notes on its fauna, in the hope 

 that they may prove interesting to some, and useful to those who have the inclination 

 and time and better ability to complete the work. Much of the information given 

 must however be received with caution ; for though the journey was performed on foot, 

 yet it was at a rate too rapid to enable one to speak with all desirable accuracy on se- 

 veral points ; but such as they are, I trust they will prove lights and land-marks to 

 others. 



Ever since the Highlands became a favourite resort for English sportsmen, a re- 

 lentless war has been waged against all the native predaceous animals. The badger, 

 the pine marten (Mustela martes) and the polecat are still pretty common in certain 

 places, particularly in the wooded wilds of the upper parts of Strath Glass. From all 

 that I could learn, the weasel (M. vulgaris) and the ermine (M. Erminea) are widely 

 distributed ; and I was greatly surprised to see many skins of both species in the cot- 

 tage of a deer-forester at Aultbae, Glen Affrick, and still more to learn that they were 

 both common at all seasons : the latter is the most abundant. Around the cottage 

 was a treeless, desolate waste, of peat bogs and craggy mountains ; storm-clouds, sur- 

 charged with rain, brooded over thin lofty peaks ; the streams leapt down their rugged 

 sides in glorious cataracts, and the valley was tilled with their eternal roar ; beautiful 

 rainbows ever and anon bespanned the glen, but they give no promise as in other 

 climes ; it seems to be the very land of storms. I saw it in the pride of its dreary 

 summer, and the forester described its wintry glories, when almost all its feathered in- 

 habitants hie away to more kindly skies. The existence, then, of these two species of 

 weasel proves that they must find an ample supply of food ; and as rabbits are not 

 found there, it follows that they must chiefly prey on mice or shrews, of which I would 

 much like to procure specimens ; very probably the latter may be found to be new to 

 our fauna. The otter is common on many lochs and streams, and very abundant on 

 the shores of Loch Carron, an inlet of the Atlantic. The fox is not so destructive to 

 the poultry-yards and lambs as formerly. The introduction of rabbits in some places, 

 and the killing of so many predaceous animals and birds by gamekeepers, have allowed 

 the alpine hares (Lepus variabilis) to increase, greatly to the detriment of sheep-farmers, 

 aud so Reynard has become more discreet in his depredations : a professional hunts- 

 man, who keeps a small party of rough terriers and wire-haired greyhounds, is gene- 

 rally employed by the farmers in a large district to kill the foxes. The wild cat is 

 still found in the wild woods, though its numbers are much diminished. The mole is 

 common iathe low grounds. I observed a shrew (Sorex) about 100 feet below the 

 summit of Mealfourvenie, near Loch Ness, and which is 2700 feet above the level of 

 the sea. I heard that the squirrel, which is common in many parts of the district, oc- 

 casionally does much damage to young plantations. Nothing satisfactory could be 

 learned of the genus Mus, or the allied one, of Arvicola. The common hare and the 

 rabbit are found in the lowlands, and the alpine hare on the hills and mountains : I 

 pursued one in his summer's dress down the side of Mealfourvenie, until he took refuge 



