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Encyclopaedia of the North East

D,E - Deer to Elgin

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A large, printed lower case letter D, and a capital letter E in a square box with an illustration of a bird standing behind it, with traps, horns, stone carvings and a sword.

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deer n 
An animal of the Cervidae, often hunted for sport and prized for its meat; hist any small animal. 

Calum flung himself upon the deer, clasped it round the neck and tried to comfort it. Terrified more than ever, it dragged him about with it in its mortal agony. Its blood came off onto his face and hands. Duror followed by his dogs came leaping out of the wood. He seemed to be laughing in some kind of berzerk joy. There was a knife in his hand, he threw Calum off with furious force, and then, seizing the deer's head with one hand cut its throat savagely with the other.
Robin Jenkins 1955. The Cone-Gatherers. 

Sword. Steel blade, about a foot and a quarter long, with a wide groove near running up it from the hilt. It has a wooden handle with brass rivets, pommel, and a looped hand guard with a panel decorated with a hunting scene.

Dirk with deer-hunting scenes which belonged to Michael Dunbar, robber, who died in 1722 in Kildrummy, Aberdeenshire.

ABDUA:36885

Deer trap. A long chunky piece of wood with a section hollowed out along the middle. In the hollow are pieces of wood, most prominently a curved pole with a hinge in the centre which runs the length of the hollow and is fastened down at either end by wooden pegs perpendicular to it.

Deer trap found in Moss of Auquharney, Aberdeenshire (medieval).

ABDUA:17613

Touting horn. A large horn with a dull red, white and blue cord. The horn is inscribed with numerous names, initials and dates in different styles. Most prominent is the inscription CoLeNsT INDeL 1752, IA MeS BOWMAN 1752, inscribed with rope like writing. Other inscriptions include AD and W.V DF 1750.

Touting horn carved with variuos owners initials, (Aberdeenshire mid 18th cent.)

ABDUA:18691

Touting horn. A small brown horn with a plain cord. The horn is decorated with incised knotwork patterns.

Touting (hunting) horn from Aberdeenshire (late 17th cent.)

ABDUA:17616

Man trap. An iron trap with sharp teeth on hinged brackets which are snapped shut by a leaf spring. The leaf spring has part of a chain at one end.

Man trap used to catch poachers, Fyvie, Aberdeenshire (19th cent.)

ABDUA:17614

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Elgin n 
The principal town of Moray, formerly the seat of the Bishop of Moray. 

The High Church of Moray, "the lanthorn of the North", the supreme example of Scottish church architecture in the great building period of the thirteenth century the double aisles of the nave are purely French; elsewhere in Britain they are found only in Chichester and Manchester "the special ornament of the realm, the glory of the Kingdom, the delight of foreigners and stranger guests; an object of praise and glorification in foreign realms by reason of the multitude serving and the beauty of its ornament, and in which we believe God was rightly worshipped; not to speak of its high belfries, its sumptious furniture and its innumerable jewels."
W Douglas Simpson 1965. The Ancient Stones of Scotland. 

Keystone. A large, trapezoid piece of beige sandstone. Carved into the upper surface is a male figure with curly hair wearing a robe, sitting cross legged and holding a long boxy object.

Keystone from Elgin Cathedral of an angel playing a portative organ (late 14th - early 15th cent.)

ABDUA:17827

Roof boss. A large, round piece of beige sandstone with six roughly cylindrical elements meeting in a cross on the underside. On the upper, round side of the stone is carved two lizard like monsters, each biting the other's tail.

Roof boss depicting two demons snapping at the other's tail (late 14th - early 15th cent.)

ABDUA:17828

D,E - Deer to Elgin