10 



MAMMALS. 



adjoining Cromlix, and was killed by a blow of a rabbit spade. Two 

 were killed in the west of the county at Aberfoyle (Forth), one by 

 a keeper named Scott, the other by a shepherd and his dog about 

 the year 1855.^ 



"Now coming more strictly within the watersheds of Tay, and 

 taking another belt of Perthshire, which may be described as south 

 of a line drawn east and west through Killiecrankie and Eannoch, 

 including the Moor of Eannoch, up to the confines of the county 

 and the march of Argyllshire and the head of Glencoe, I make out 

 that the species is extinct in all the Breadalbane Perthshire estates 

 and in Atholl, and over the whole area just indicated — unless indeed 

 a record in 1879 of footsteps seen in snow and one killed, a young 

 female, within four miles of Dunkeld can be trusted (1). Previous 

 to this capture, which was accomplished by two collie dogs, no 

 specimen of the true Wild Cat had been secured for fourteen years 

 (say 1865) anywhere in this district. Still within this belt, but 

 close to the boundary of the first belt treated of, the last killed at 

 Dunira was about twenty-six years ago (say 1854), as I was in- 

 formed by Mr. Duncan Macgregor, twenty-two years gamekeeper in 

 Glen Artney. ' This was at a place called Scarnach Mhor, or The Big 

 Carn.' This position lies right behind the mansion-house on the face 

 of the hill overlooking the policies, and the capture took place under 

 the following circumstances : ' The keepers during their rambles 

 noticed that Foxes were frequenting the cairns, and set traps in all the 

 available places among the stones. Next morning, to their great 

 surprise, a large-sized Wild Cat was caught. No one knew whence 

 he came, because not so much as a track had been seen on the snow 

 for years previously, and none had been seen since.' 



" Coming to Loch Tay side, one was killed by Duncan Dewar 

 (before mentioned) in 1869 in Finlarig Wood; it was a large female, 

 and was preserved by him. I saw this fine animal in his house in 

 1879. Another was killed by Mr. Dewar above Auchumore House 

 in 1856 in a deep glen ; it was a very large male, and was sent to the 

 late Marquis. It was a noble animal, and, as Mr. Dewar related, 

 easily knocked over his terrier with each stroke of his paw, and 

 turned twice upon himself when he went to save his dog. In 1836 

 three were killed by Peter Mackay, gamekeeper, who was still alive 



^ *' In a recently published popular work of great merit, viz. Picturesque Europe, 

 occurs the statement that * On Ben Venue is the Goire nan Urishin, or Cave of the 

 Goblin's Cairn, which shelters Wild Cats and Badgers. ' As regards the subject of the 

 present article the verb must be used in the past tense." 



