Stags’ Heads i 29 
There is a good collection of heads at Guisachan, 1 amongst which is one of the three 
pairs of engraved antlers known to collectors. The horns, which measure some 40 inches 
and carry 13 points, are polished white and engraved in fantastic designs, mostly representing 
sporting scenes in European countries. Mr. Baillie-Grohman, in describing the other two 
pairs in existence, one of which he is fortunate enough to possess, says that Baron Nath. 
Rothschild of Vienna owns the third pair, for which he paid £600—probably the highest 
price given in modern times for a deer’s head. 
2. In Blair Castle there hangs in a place of honour at the end of one of the long 
passages a beautiful head of io points, exceptional beam, and extraordinary length. This stag 
ONE OF THE PASSAGES, BLAIR CASTLE 
With a large collection of stags’ heads shot by the present Duke of Athole. 
frequented one of the corries known as Cuirn Mharneach for several years. At last he 
grew such an unusually fine head that orders were given for him to be shot, as he was not 
obtainable during the stalking season. This was effected by a stalker named John Stewart, 
known in the forest as “ Black Jock.” 
Blair Castle contains, I think, about the largest and best collection of stags’ heads in 
Scotland. 2 Though deer-stalking has been conducted in the forest for a longer period 
probably than in any other, yet, comparatively speaking, there are no old heads, nearly 
1 A very fine 15-pointer was killed this last season (1896) in Guisachan by Hon. Dudley Marjoribanks. This head, with 
two Royals sent by Lord Burton from Glenquoich, and a beautiful 14-pointer killed by my friend Mr. Charles Lucas at Dundreggan, 
were the best heads of a good season. 
2 Gordon Castle collection is quite as interesting as that of Blair Castle, though it is perhaps not so large. 
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