MAMMALS. 
Cervus elephus, L. Red-Deer. 
It is stated that 284 stags and 32 hinds were killed in 1880 
in Sutherland. How far these figures are correct we are 
unable to say. 
The principal forests are Dirrie-Chatt or Dunrobin in the 
east, and Dirrie-More or Eeay Forest in the west, besides, 
of later years, other afforested ground in Assynt. There 
is evidence that formerly very large heads occurred in 
Sutherland {Lays of the Deer Forest, vol. ii. p. 145), and the 
Dunrobin Museum contains a very fine head, with botli 
horns deeply cupped, and of great spread and thickness of 
beam. The Duke of Westminster at the present time is 
striving to improve the heads in the Eeay Forest, and with 
singular and rare sportsmanship, forbids the killing of the 
finer adult stags. A decided difference has already made 
itself manifest in the improvement of both body and antlers. 
No doubt these grand heads were commoner in the days 
when Sutherland was covered with oak and pine timber, 
remains of which are still visible in the peat-mosses. But 
when it is believed that there is not at present a tree in 
Sutherland which numbers a hundred years of age, we must 
go a long way back to localise them in time. 
What the Duke of Westminster is doing to improve the 
stags in the west, the Duke of Sutherland is doing in the 
east, and, except a few killed by himself or Lord Staf- 
ford, no good heads are allowed to be shot in Dunrobin, 
under a fine of £1 to the stalker who allows such to be 
done. At the present time deer are spread throughout the 
whole county, from the north-east corner of the parish of 
Eeay to the woods of Dornoch. It is worthy of reference 
here, what has been related of the great emigration of deer 
out of the Eeay country after the first " head " of sheep had 
been there introduced (vide Lays of the Beer Forest, vol. ii. 
p. 146). 
On the top of the Little Ben Griam is still to be seen 
