The zoology of Forfarshire presents fewer varieties than its botany. Mr Don has given along with his list of plants, a list of the animals of Forfarshire, which is respectable in point of magnitude, but in point of accuracy cannot be de pended upon, as his knowledge of animals was vague and inaccurate. Among the quadrupeds, we may mention the hedgehog, to prove, that it extends farther north in Scot land than Mr Pennant was aware of, for he restricted its northern limits to the river Tay.
Among the birds, we may number the dottrel, (Chant drius morinellus,) which visits the foreground of the Gram pians about the beginning of April, and continues about three weeks, before going to the high muirs to breed. It returns about the beginning of August, and after resting again for three weeks, it retires to the south, and is not seen again until the following spring.
Among the mollusca, we may notice the Unio margari tifera, or pearl-bearing mussel, as being found in the al pine rivers ; and in the rocks on the shore, the Aka subor bicularis. The sands of Barrie furnish the Echinus pzusillus; and the sea tathe, adhering to the lobster cages, will yield the student of nature the Sertularia lichenastrum and elumosa.
2. Civil History.—In ancient times, this county was united with the Mearns, and seems to have received the name of Horestia from Tacitus, in consequence of the mountainous aspect of its northern boundaries. It was, however, disjoined from the Mearns by Kenneth II. about the year 838, and bestowed upon his brother iEneas ; and from this circumstance, it was termed 4ngus. But as Forfar is the county town, it is now more generally known by the name of Forfarshire. It is at present divided into fifty-six parishes, distributed into five presbyteries, which meet at Forfar, Dundee, Brechin, Meigle, and Aber brothick. These five presbyteries, together with the presbytery of Fordun, constitute the synod of Angus and Mearns.
The greatest part of the estates are here held by char ter from the crown, and are termed freehold. In some eases, the property holds of some proprietor or corpora tion, and in this case the granter of the charter is termed the superior, and the holder of the lands the vassal or feuar. But in this county, the superior claims no right to the personal services of his vassal, who merely improves his waste grounds, and in return obtains a grant of a per petual lease. Leases of twenty or thirty years duration
are frequently granted, convertible at the option of the oc cupant into a feu, upon payment of double rent at any time during the currency of the lease. Many estates in the county are held under deeds of entail. The object of these deeds is no doubt to keep up a name, but they reduce the proprietors to the condition of mere liferenters, chill all ardour for improvement, and hurt in no inconsiderable de gree the interests of the country. The valued rent, by which the right of freehold and other public matters are regulated, amounts in sterling money to 14,3031. From the best information which Mr Ileadrick could obtain, it appears that in 1808, the gross rent of lands, woods, quar ries, fishings, Sze. in the county, and including farms in the natural occupancy of the proprietors at a reasonable valuation, amounted to L.208,924 15 3 Estimated value of house rents . . 95,872 0 6 Total rent from fixed property . . . L. 304,796 15 9 The number of freeholders at present on the roll, amounts to about 113. There are live royal boroughs, FORFAR, DUNDEE, ABERBROTRICE, MONTROSE, and BRE CHIN. (See these articles.) Before the Union, each burgh sent one or more commissioners, according to its wealth and population. Since that time, Forfar and Dundee have been united with Perth, Cupar in Fife, and St Andrew's, in choosing a representative ; while Aberbrothick, Mon trose, and Brechin, have been joined to Inverbervie and Aberdeen. The mode of proceeding is as follows : Each town council having fixed upon the person it wishes to represent them, sends a delegate to the returning borough instructed to vote for him. Each town is the returning borough by rotation, which it is of the greatest importance to gain, because in case of a division, where only four are joined, it has two votes.
The population of Forfarshire, in 1808, amounted to 24,087 families, containing 4.5,461 males, and 53,666 fe males, making a total number of 99,127 souls. In the year 1811, the population had increased 8451 ; and at that pe riod amounted to 107,573. The cause of the excess of females in the preceding enumeration, must be sought for in the numbers of young men who enter the army and navy, and seldom again return. This population is em ployed principally in the three great springs of our na tional resources.