56 A VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE MORAY BASIN. 



green haugh, the wooded hills rising on either side, those on the 

 south side being clad mostly with firs, while on the north, birch and 

 hardwood predominate ; from the haugh a Greenshank rises, and a 

 little lower down we see a pair of Goosanders. As the strath 

 opens out, the scenery still improves ; the firs, both on the sides 

 of the hill and low down in the course of the burn, have a more 

 gnarled appearance and are greater in size, while on the other side 

 the birches rise higher and more stately and beautiful. About 

 Guisachan House the land assumes the richness and the scenery 

 of an English park, so much has it been improved and so care- 

 fully kept. Deer wander all about, close up to the mansion-house 

 or the head forester's cottage on the hill, and on one occasion we 

 came on nearly a score of the beautiful males of Keeves' Pheasants 

 sunning themselves on a hillock, a pretty sight. 



Though much of the wood is natural, still a good deal has been 

 planted, and Lord Tweedmouth has a nursery for the constant 

 supply of young plants, not merely Scots firs, but other orna- 

 mental trees and shrubs. Khododendrons seem to do well here, 

 and much of the wood and borders of the burn near the house, 

 have been planted with it. 



Referring to the trees of Strath Glass, the late Lord Tweed- 

 mouth sent us the following notes : — 



' The natural firs and birch extend for miles, say from imme- 

 diately west of Guisachan to Ardnamulloch, i.e. fourteen miles. 

 The firs are much more numerous on the south side, and the birch 

 on the north side of the strath, the former preferring shade and 

 the latter sun, I suppose. Cougie Wood is at the head of that glen, 

 with steep hills on either side, and there — Cougie Wood — the firs 

 are as numerous on the south as on the north. 



' Lord Lovat,born 1802 — grandfather of the present Lord — told 

 me that there was not a birch in Strath Glass (the one I am 

 speaking of) until sheep took the place of black cattle that used 

 to be sent to this and similar districts for grazing during the 

 summer months, and from my own observations since, I am in little 

 doubt that such was the case — i.e. cattle browsed on the rising birch. 



' Sir Roderick Murchison's theory was that the fir had suc- 

 ceeded the oak-tree here (and my objection that the oak-tree now 



