Stags’ Heads 125 
pointer, was killed in Glenfiddick by Robert Cumming (forester) on 24th September 1831. 
The second—also a 17-pointer—was killed by Alexander, fourth Duke of Gordon, when in 
his eighty-fourth year, in the woods near Gordon Castle, on 5th October 1826. It is the 
best all-round Scotch stag’s head I have ever seen. I am unfortunately unable to give 
the measurements of these two exceptional heads, but the length of the one killed in 
Glenfiddick is, I should guess, about 40 inches, and the other about 37 inches. No two 
such heads as these could ever be found now, alas ! in any of our Northern forests, for they 
are quite in a class above even extraordinary heads. 
One very noticeable feature with regard to the Scotch stags’ heads of to-day is the curious 
way in which the tops of the heads have altered. Heads with “ cups are now becoming 
quite rare, for the horns now generally throw out their three points on the top in irregular 
forms. Another slight change, too, is that adult stags seldom have the “bays” so well 
developed as formerly, and in a very large number of good heads these points are now absent. 
The number of points generally found on Scotch heads is well shown in Mr. Macleay’s 
table of those which passed through his hands from 1889-1895. 
Season. 
_ 
No. of Points. 
Switch. 
One Horn. 
Hummel. 
Malform. 
Under Six 
Points, 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
1 3 
H 
15 
16 
18 | 
20 
00 
00 
vD 
40 
35 
83 
65 
87 
55 
54 
15 
5 
1 
... 
2 
2 
4 
51 
1890 
57 
37 
90 
64 
94 
49 
32 
6 
2 
... 
1 
l6 
3 
1 
46 
1891 
+9 
3 2 
91 
69 
111 
38 
45 
4 
1 
1 
2 
2 
1 
54 
1892 
56 
44 
87 
72 
100 
46 
49 
6 
4 
1 
10 
2 
I 
1 
21 
00 
33 
23 
79 
62 
97 
70 
7 1 
13 
2 
2 
1 
1 
I I 
I 
3 
7 
24 
i8 94 
38 
43 
I 97 
64 
102 
54 
38 
8 
5 
1 
1 
12 
6 
7 
24 
i8 95 
49 
38 
75 
69 
n 4 
55 
5 ° 
6 
4 
2 
1 
... 
21 
I 
4 
5 
6 
Though no criterion of excellence in heads, it is interesting to note the seasonal fluctua¬ 
tions. It is a very good Scotch stag’s head that exceeds 32 inches in length, 32 inches’ span 
(inside), and whose points are all properly developed ; though, as we all know, measurements 
are no absolute criterion of intrinsic excellence, the very best heads will always be found to 
measure well. After careful consideration I have decided to separate the best recently-killed 
Scotch stags’ heads into two classes. First, those which we may call “ Extraordinary,” in that 
they present remarkable features both in measurement and beauty, and which stand in 
superiority like giants on a plane apart ; and, secondly, what may be termed “ First-class 
Heads.” Now in many seasons there may not be such a thing as an extraordinary head 
obtained, whilst, as a rule, not more than one or two first-class heads are laid low. 
EXTRAORDINARY HEADS 
The following list, without pretending to be a complete one, gives most of the really 
famous heads which have been obtained since the year 1840. 
