MAMMALS. 



11 



at the time this article was first written, on the hill above Taymouth 

 Castle. 



" It was believed to have become extinct in Glen Lyon for more 

 than forty years (say since 1840). Also in Rannoch it is probably 

 extinct. The last killed on Dunalastair on the river Tummel was 

 about the year 1852. A little further south, on Glen Queich Moor, 

 one was trapped in Glen Lochan above Loch Yullein, in the Amulree 

 district, about thirty years ago (say 1850), by a keeper employed by 

 Guthrie.^ This would be about 1850, and none have been heard of 

 in that part since. They are extinct too in Glen Shee in the east of 

 Perthshire, the last having been trapped at Dalnaglar about eleven or 

 twelve years ago (say 1869 or 1870). Another is regarded as having 

 been killed in Glen Queich about forty years ago by a farmer and 

 his dogs (say 1840). 



" In the north of our area Wild Cats existed about 1842, and even 

 to a later date on Loch Ericht side, as I was assured by Mr. 

 Macgregor, the gamekeeper at Dalnacardoch,^ and indeed possibly up 

 to 1870, when he gave me information, but on the north side. 



"Finally, as regards Perthshire both within the Tay watersheds 

 and in other portions within Forth, etc., the general information 

 supplied by one of my ablest correspondents, viz. 'that since he 

 took an interest in natural history (then over some twenty years, or 

 back to say 1860), he cannot remember ever seeing or having heard 

 of one being captured in the county of Perth,' pretty accurately fixes 

 the date of their becoming really rare there, and it will be seen that 

 I have only been able to hear of three instances since that time. 

 This correspondent adds : ' The so-called "Wild Cats which have been 

 obtained during this latter period proved on close examination to be 

 domestic cats which had taken to the woods.' But in these three 

 instances there is good reason to believe the genuineness of the 

 records. 



" Having thus treated of the species as a former inhabitant of the 

 county of Perth, I now add what little there is as regards the Vale 

 of Strathmore and the eastern extensions of the Grampian Mountains 

 through Forfar and Kincardine. 



"Here our information becomes more vague and uncertain, as 



^ '* Guthrie, who was one of the two principal actors in the restoration of the Caper- 

 caillie at Taymouth. See under that species. 



- " Referred to under Dotterel in out Moray Basin volume, q.v. Mr. D. Macgregor 

 — not the same as just mentioned — could remember the Wild Cats calling in the 

 Black Wood of Rannoch when the young were being fed by their parents." 



