22 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PHYSICAL FEATURES 
which we have every reason to believe are natural, and not planted, 
are situated on a hill near Eosehall on the way to Oykel Bridge.^ 
Next in age, and which are known to have been planted, are those at 
Kilcalmldll or Gordonbush, and Kintradwell ; they were probably 
planted about the same time. The great extent of country now 
under trees has all been planted within the last sixty or seventy 
years. Such an extent of newly planted ground, for so long a time 
barren, must, and indeed now does, exercise a decided influence on 
the fauna of the county. On the densely wooded side of Ben 
Bhraggie the badger exists : — one of the few remaining places in 
the county still frequented by it, though formerly they were 
apparently common. The siskin nests here too, and doubtless the 
crossbill also, though the only place where the latter is known to 
do so with certainty is in the Balblair Wood at the Little Perry. 
In the Upj)at Woods a female honey buzzard was shot in July, 
which might well have been breeding, though no nest has, so far, 
actually been discovered. 
The greatest extent of wooded country lies in the parishes of 
Dornoch, Creich, and Golspie, though almost every parish possesses 
some newly planted ground ; and should the latter prove a success, 
no doubt still more land will be thus treated : every strath, too, 
possesses some natural birch ; of little value, however, except to 
give shelter to game and sheep, but all having influence on the 
bird-life of the district. 
In mentioning the cultivated districts, no account has been 
taken of the large tract of country ploughed up and reclaimed by 
the Duke of Sutherland in the parish of Kildonan, but as yet this 
has had comparatively little effect upon the fauna of that district. 
We understand, however, that plantations have been laid out there, 
and there can be no manner of doubt that, should the trees 
thrive, a few years will see a marked change in many forms of life. 
In the north and south-west of this district no hills of any 
importance occur, but in the central districts the country assumes 
a different character. Entering Sutherland from the Caithness 
^ Since this was written we have learned that these trees were also planted. 
Still, they are the oldest known to us in Sutherland. 
