The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-11-15
A5rHeup1E MAINS. THE QUEENS FARM.

are two only of perfectly pure breed,
but these, l am told, are as fine specl-
mems as are found in Great Britain.
Speed speaks in their every line; in
their slender, 1.-the bodies, their long,
slim legs, even in their sherp.pointed
faces. Full breeds and half-breeds,
they are oil gentle creatures eager to
be carsssed-much more gentle than
the ordinary kennel-bred dogs. as they
are much petted. They are let ont
daily for exercise, and in the deer
stalking season their services are re-
ouired to track the wounded deer.
Their food is largely oatmeal or ''por-
ridge" as that of Hlghland-bred dogs
shonld be.
Near the kennels is the cage OF the
eagles, building twenty feet long,
perhaps, partially opened at the sides
and netted, but solidly rooted. Here
live pair of golden eagles. They
were taken when young by keeper
from nest near Abergeldie Castle.
They are magnificent birds. measuring
six feet from tip to tip, untsmed and
untamable, though their whole life has
passed in captivity. No one dares to
enter the cage where they are. When
food is to be putin or the cage cleaned,
they ere shut of in one part by slid
ing partition. Their food is raw meat.
venisou or rabbit. The meat must be
fresh; there is nothing of the csrrion
bird in their natures
On inauiring their namasi regretted
to learn that these imperial creatures
are nameiess. The Queen often comes
to see them, and the pleasure the chill
dren take III them is Unsuitable, plea
sure deliciously favored with sense
of their feroaity.
Tho wild deer sometimes become
quite tame in the winter months, and
this season have been in the habit OF
coming down twice day to the keepers
lodge to be fel and petted and csressed.
"But YOU will have to have these
shct," said.
"Oh. as the spring comes on they
will go back to the herd and We shall
see no more of them," WAS the reply.
On the wall of the lobby at the Dan
zig Shiel hangs small sketch in colors
of deer. 1t Is a portrait Of "'ic-
toria,' a pet hind of the Queen. She
found her when very young in a
gravel Dit up Glepmick as she was drlv-
ing one day MIST. The small creature
was brought home i'll the Queens car.
riaee and installed as pet. She lived
until 1857. On the pretty collar that
encircled Ler neck were the initials
'sy. r."
Highland ponies are kept for the
hills, and these are turned out III the
winter. At one time several mules
were imported to Balmoral. They had
served in the Egyptian campaign, and
were bought by her Majesty.
1t wss thought they might serve IN
the place al ponies, but the expert
ment was failure. A shoe on one OF
the outbuiliings at the Glassalt Shlei
is the sole trace they have left behind.
At the Abergeldie Mains is kept the
Queeu's he.l OF pollel Angus cattle.
There are two varieties OF polled (horn-
lessl cattle III Scotland, the shaggy
Galloway and the smooth Angus or
Aberdeen. The latter take their name
Angus" from The old district of An
gus row comprised IN Forfarshire.
They were called "doddies" il Angus
and "hunllies" in Beechan. When
DR.. johnson made his celebrated tour
in the western islands in 1773 he found
black, hornless cattle in Skye, which
lie remarks, are "cslled by the Scots
humble COWS as VIC call a bee humble
bee that wants a sting"
The Queen began her herd at the
Abergeldie Mains in 1881. Previous
to this sne had personally inspected a
more extinct hut valuable herd at Til
liford, Aberdeenshire. One Of the first