114 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



the keepers of Islay House has been made into a handsome 

 garment of ermine. 



Otters (Lutra vulgaris) are common, especially round the 

 coast. The keepers believe that they travel between Islay and 

 Jura, and seldom stay long in one place. There is a pure white 

 skin preserved at Islay House. It was got from an animal 

 killed a short time ago, and another white Otter was reported on 

 the Sorn last summer. It is said that there is a third preserved 

 at Kildalton House, which looks as though albinism was not 

 uncommon. 



Common Seals (Phoca vitulina) are plentiful. 



Grey Seal (Halich&rus gryphus). — I am told that a few pairs 

 of this large and rare Seal still breed on a spot that need not be 

 exactly specified. A short time ago a man named Macphee went 

 there in a boat, and carried off two young ones, intending to 

 rear and tame them. The enraged mother pursued the boat, 

 and put her flippers over the gunwale, which so terrified Mac- 

 phee that he let the little ones go. That these were young Grey 

 Seals is borne out by the fact that this took place in October, 

 when that species produces its offspring. Phoca vitulina breeds 

 in May or June. 



Ked-Deer (Cervus elaphus). — There are two distinct herds of 

 Deer on the island. The first inhabits the large woods round 

 Islay House. The numbers are rigorously kept down by periodic 

 Deer-drives. The herd seldom falls below ten, and has, I am 

 told, sometimes reached thirty. The second herd is much larger, 

 and inhabits the wilder and higher ground on the north-weBt 

 side of the island. It probably numbers several hundred. Mr. 

 Martin, of Dunlossit, told me that in 1908 twenty-six stags and 

 nine hinds were killed on his ground. The Islay herds are 

 frequently recruited by fresh blood from Jura, where there is a 

 well-known forest. The stags constantly swim across the Sound. 



Fallow-Deer (G. dama) were introduced about a century ago 

 by the Campbells of Islay. The herd at onetime is said to have 

 numbered over five hundred. Now there are less than one hun- 

 dred, and the numbers are slowly decreasing. The Fallow-Deer 

 rarely if ever leave the Kildalton Woods. 



Eoe-Deer (Capreolus caprcea) are apparently indigenous, but 

 not numerous. So far as I can discover there are none in the woods 



