It's an ill wind...

Comfy in my sitting chair, eagerly settling to peruse the contents of my latest Scottish Field, perhaps as a consequence of my current stupor-inducing Social Isolation, in reading your recent published letter 'Deer, oh Deer' [Letters, May 2020] my imagination was somewhat ignited upon reading its content. In particular, whilst recognising the import and seriousness of the subject matter I was intrigued by the correspondent’s statement that: 'As for the methane output of wild deer quoted, this has never been researched.' Pausing momentarily, this prompted me to consider both the premise and practicality of how one goes about conducting such research. A vision then came to mind of scientists in white coats armed with bags, not plastic of course, running amongst our hills and glens chasing after Scotland’s majestic and esteemed Lords of the Glen hoping to, literally, capture one of life’s most intimate moments. Then, post event, measuring, weighing and recording, for posterity, the ‘methane burp’ as I believe the more genteel in society now refer to nature’s inevitable course. All in the name of science. Not ending there, one would have to assume that such research would also have to extend to all forms of our wealth of native omnivores and carnivores to create a relative and meaningful mosaic of statistical samples for further future analysis. With that thought, my sympathy finally rested with the poor individual given the soulless assignment of capturing and collating the ‘exhaust’ emanating from our national treasure, the midge. A thankless task indeed. Lindsay Paterson, East Neuk of Fife