40 



MAMMALS. 



spotted Deer {op. cit., p. 508), "species in Scotia, ut videtur exotica" 

 Don follows with remarks as to its rarity, and being in a tamed state 

 in Kinnaird and Panmure. 



An interesting account of this species and its history and 

 distribution in Europe will be found in the Zoologist for 1877, for 

 March of that year. 



The Honourable William Maule kept Fallow Deer at Panmure. 



At the present time Fallow Deer are to be met with in many 

 places, but principally in Perth, fed and confined — at times breaking 

 out, however, and straying far afield. Thus, one almost entirely white 

 or cream-coloured was shot here — Dunipace covers — November 14, 

 1895, but whence it came we have never been able definitely to 

 decide. It had been seen several times, and known to haunt other 

 covers, both to the east and west of where it was shot, in the 

 ordinary course of a day's coA'cr-shoot. 



Capreolus capraea {Gray). Roe Deer. 



If Pennant was correct when he wrote in his statement that its 

 distribution was restricted to the woods on the south side of Loch 

 Rannoch, that being according to his account the furthest southerly 

 point of its existence, and that being what we are accustomed to 

 name the Black Wood of Rannoch, and a part of the ancient 

 Caledonian Forest of pines, the question might arise. Would such a 

 limited dispersal indicate a decadence in progress at that time ? And, 

 if so, would what we know of its much wider distribution at the 

 present time point to a revival and resuscitation when planting took 

 place on a large scale, and woods became much more general through 

 the northern portions of our area, as, for instance, in Atholl and 

 elsewhere, about the end of the eighteenth century and afterwards ? 

 In this connection the Roe Deer is distinctly stated to have been at 

 one time indigenous in England, but to have become extinct as a wild 

 animal (consult Harting, and Eagle Clarke, Yorkshire). Whilst not 

 altogether accepting Pennant's dictum, I think the chronology is 

 worthy of some attention. 



Following up this suppositious argument, and to quote further, 

 the old Staiistical Account in 1791 (vol. vi. p. 362) says: "Said to 

 have appeared seven years previous to the date of 1793 at Little 

 Dunkeld parish {auct. the Rev. Alexander Stuart). And the same 

 Account {yq]. XX. p. 472) says of Dowally parish: "Are abundant 

 here, being at one time nearly extirpated. They obtained a jubilee 



