A Legend of the Last Wolf in Scotland

Our ancient ancestors, the Picts, both feared and respected the wolf
for its intellegence, cunning and strength, and power, hence they
honoured it by carving its image upon their mysterious stones.

It has been written that the last wolf in Scotland was killed by Sir
Ewan Cameron of Locheil, who killed one in 1680, but it seems that they
were seen in remote corners of the highlands long after this, although
Locheil's wolf may have been the last on his territory in western
Inverness-shire.

One story of the last wolf states that the wolf was killed in 1743 by a
ighty hunter named MacQueen of Pall-a-chrocain, in the Tarnaway Forest
of Morayland. Aparently, MacQueen was sent a message from the Laird of
Mackintosh that a large "black beast" had appeared in the glens and had
killed two children and their mother who were crossing the hills from
Calder. Consequently, a gathering was called to meet at the tryst above
Fi-Giuthas next morning where MacQueen was invited to attend.

In the morning, the gathering having been long assembled, Mackintosh
waited impatiently for him, but MacQueen did not arrive. However, they
continued to wait until morning was over, when at last he appeared.
Seeing the irritable Mackintosh, MacQueen asked "What was the hurry?"
All present made some impatient reply. MacQueen lifted his plaid and
brought out the bloudy head of the wolf and threw it on the grass.
Mackintosh was so impressed he gave him the land known as
Sean-achan.

A few miles from Loth, a stream falls through a glen, and nearby on the
roadside is a memorial that states that the last wolf in Scotland met
his lonely end by the hand of Hunter Polson about the year 1700.

In ancient times the wolf's howl was frequently heard throughout the
Northern Hemisphere. Today the wolves live only in sparsely populated
northern reagions and in a few wilderness areas in southern Europe,
Mexico and India.

One thing is certain, the wild and magnificent wolf made its last eerie
call in Scotland, after thousands of years of existence, at the end of
the 18th century. Today, we can only think and dream of it when we walk
in the same hills and glens.

Thank you for reading this article, if you have any comments about it
or wish to contact me, please e-mail me,
Marilyn.Cameron@btinternet.com