MAMMALS. 



195 



during severe winters they are reported to suffer less than in more 

 northern forests — such as those of Sutherland and Ross. 



From the forests farther east Red Deer often wander into 

 the lower grounds, down the Spey valley, to the grounds of 

 Gordon Castle, and formerly even as far as the Laigh of Moray. 

 From the forests of Glen Avon, Inchrory, and Glen Fiddich they 

 occasionally scatter out over the Cam districts, and are seen on 

 Ben Rinnes, coming down in severe seasons to the woods of Aber- 

 lour and Carron, and swimming the Spey. But deer in Inchrory 

 are mere 'birds of passage.' One day a thousand head may be 

 seen upon Inchrory ground, and the next not a dozen (ami. Captain 

 Dunbar-Brander). Captain Dunbar-Brander remembers when the 

 woods around Lochnabo held many deer at all times, but the Duke 

 of Richmond fenced off the Glenfiddich Forest, and now for many 

 years they have ceased to frequent these coverts. The Red Deer 

 was undoubtedly originally a woodland species almost as much as 

 a moorland one, and they still cannot resist the temptations and 

 allurements of planted ground. 



In Castle Grant woods, we are informed, fresh blood was 

 introduced, as was ascertained by Mr. William Evans during a 

 visit paid there by him in 1891. 



On the lower reaches of the Findhorn and the district around 

 Ferness and adjoining grounds — say an area of eighty miles in 

 diameter or more, — * only a few straggling individuals are now and 

 again to be met with, under stress of severe weather. In former 

 times, when the old forest of Lochandorb stretched its broad 

 wing over the south-eastern section of the parish as far as the 

 river Findhorn, Red Deer were plentiful enough. A small hold- 

 ing — Auchendaur — on the Glenferness estate, was so named in 

 early times from the fierce contests which annually took place 

 on that spot between the stags during the rutting season' 

 (R. Thomson's MS.). 



We think the following, taken from the Northern Chronicle for 

 August 16th, 1893, may prove of value to those of our readers who 

 are interested in the development of stags' horns : — 



STAG-SHOOTING STATISTICS. 

 Messrs. \V. A. Macleay and Sons, Inverness, have prepared the following interest- 

 ing statement regarding the point values of the stags' heads shot in Highland fore«t« 



