105 ) 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



MAMMALIA. 



The Hedgehog in the West of Scotland. — I am interested to hear 

 that so long ago as 1877 Mr. Bolam saw a Hedgehog on the side of 

 Ben Cruachan.* Of course, in treating of the species to the west of 

 the watershed or backbone of Scotland in our volumes on the ' Fauna 

 of Scotland,' Buckley and the present writer did not speak of it as 

 a decadent or disappearing species, but on all occasions as of compara- 

 tively new occurrence, and as an advancing dispersal, dependent upon 

 circumstantial changes in the features of the west, such as road- 

 making and planting, and perhaps introductions. It is, therefore, 

 not quite in keeping with the subject of dispersal to speak of the 

 Hedgehog as " still not uncommon " in such and such a locality in 

 the west. As regards the North-west Highlands, both Buckley and 

 the present writer have had almost a lifetime experience, and in 

 certain parts an almost yearly — and together — continuous residence, 

 and I think what has been said in such of our volumes as treat of the 

 areas to the west of the watershed, about the general scarcity of the 

 animal in question, and its slow progress over the dividing ranges and 

 advance only through certain defiles or lower lands, I say, I think 

 what we have said fairly represents its more recent dispersals. These 

 have been principally recorded by quite a limited number of avenues. 

 This, however, in no way interferes with any earlier records which 

 may be attainable since, as in the case of Mr. Bolam's finding it on 

 the slopes of Ben Cruachan in 1877, and the one on Loch Maree, 

 between Kinlochewe and the Loch Maree Hotel, near to Talladale 

 Bridge, in 1888. These two may certainly be entered as Becords — 

 the earliest I have from these passes through the backbone of Inver- 

 ness, Eoss, and Argyll ; and both Buckley and I have had pretty 

 continuous knowledge of a very large portion of the areas involved. 

 Besides, we have, either in our possession or have examined, a very 

 extensive series of Vermin Schedules from most of the large estates 

 throughout the Counties of Argyll, Inverness, Boss, Sutherland, 

 Cromarty, and Caithness, going back through many decades; so 



* ' Zoologist,' ante, p. 75. 



