THE FINDHORN : THE LAST WOLF IN SCOTLAND. (To THE
EDITOR OP Pits "SPRCTAIOR.") SIR,—The story of the last wolf in Scotland is thus told in the notes to a volume of poems (long out of print I should
say) by two brothers, John Sobieski and Charles Edward Stuart, who claimed descent from the fated House of Stuart.
"The last wolf was killed by MacQueen of Pall-a'-Chrocain, who died in the year 1797, and was the most celebrated "commix" of the Findhorn for an unknown period. Of a gigantic stature, six feet seven inches in height, he was equally remarkable for his strength, courage, and celebrity as a deerstalker. . . . One winter's day about 1748 he received a message from the Laird of Macintosh that a largo • black beast,' supposed to be a wolf, had appeared in the glens and the day before killed two children. A Tainchel, or gathering, to drive the county was called to meet at a tryst above Fi-giuthas, where MacQueen was invited to attend with his dogs. Pall-a'-Chrocain informed himself of the place where the children had been killed—the last tracks of the wolf and the conjectures of his haunt—and promised his assistance. in the morning the Tainchel had long assembled and Macintosh waited with impatience, but MacQueen did not arrive. At last he appeared, and Macintosh ro..eived him with an irritable expression of disappointment. • What was the hurry said Pall-a'-Chrocain. Macintosh gave an indignant retort, and all present made some impatient reply. MacQueen lifted his plaid and drew the black, bloody head of the wolf from under his arm. ' There it is for you I' said he, and tossed it on the ground in the midst of the surprised circle. Macintosh expressed great joy and admiration 'and gave him the (mid called Soan-achan for meat to his dokre."—(" Lays of the Deer Forest." Blackwood and Son. 1848.) Eversley, Poole.
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