FOURTH DAY. HALIEUS-POIETES-ORNITHER- FISHING FOR SALMON AND SEA TROUT. SCENE-Loch Maree, West of Rophin, Scotland. TIME-Middle of July. POIET. I BEGIN to be tired. This is really a long day's journey; and these last ten miles through bogs, with no other view than that of mountains half hid in mists, and brown waters that can hardly be called lakes; and with no other trees than a few stunted birches, that look so little alive that they might be supposed immediately descended from the bog-wood, every where scattered beneath our feet. This is the most barren part of one of the most desolate countries I have ever passed through in Europe; and though the inn at Strathgarve G is tolerable, that of Auchnasheen is certainly the worst I have ever seen, and I hope the worst I shall ever see. We ought to have good amusement at Pool Ewe, to compen sate us for this uncomfortable day's journey. HAL.-I trust we shall have sport, as far as salmon and sea trout can furnish sport. But the difficulties of our journey are almost over. See, Loch Maree is stretched at our feet, and a good boat with four oars will carry us in four or five hours to our fishing ground: and that time will not be mispent, for this lake is not devoid of beautiful, and even grand scenery. POIET. The scenery begins to improve; and that cloud-breasted mountain on the left is of the best character of Scotch mountains these woods, likewise, are respectable for this northern country. I think I see. islands, also, in the distance: and the quantity of cloud always gives effect to this kind of view; and perhaps, without such assistance to the imagination, there would be nothing even approaching to the sublime in these countries; but cloud and mist, by creating obscurity and offering a substitute for greatness and distance, give something of an Alpine and majestic character to this region. ORN.-As we are now fixed in our places in the boat, you will surely put out a rod or two with a set of flies, or try the tail of the for a large trout or salmon: our fishing will not hinder our progress. par I HAL. In most other lakes I should do so; here I have often tried the experiment, but never with success. This lake is extremely deep, and there are very few fish which haunt it generally except char; and salmon seldom rest but in particular parts along the shore, which we shall not touch. Qur voyage will be a picturesque, rather than an angling one. I see we shall have little occasion for the oars, for a strong breeze is rising, and blowing directly down the lake; we shall be in it in a minute. Hoist the sails! On we go! we shall make our voyage in half the number of hours. I had calculated upon; and I hope to catch a salmon in time for dinner. POIET. The scenery improves as we advance nearer the lower parts of the lake. The mountains become higher, and that small island or peninsula presents a bold craggy outline; and the birch wood below it, and the pines above, make a scene somewhat Alpine in character. But what is that large bird soaring above the pointed rock, towards the end of the lake? Surely it is an eagle! HAL. You are right, it is an eagle, and of a rare and peculiar species-the grey or silver eagle, a noble bird! From the size of the animal, it must be the female; and her aery is in that high rock. I dare say the male is not far off. 1 PHYS.-I think I see another bird, of a smaller size, perched on the rock below, which is similar in form. HAL.-You do: it is the consort of that beautiful and powerful bird; and I have no doubt their young ones are not far off. POIET. Look at the bird! She dashes into the water falling like a rock, and raising a column of spray; she has fallen from a great height. And now she rises again into the air; what an extraordinary sight! HAL. She is pursuing her prey, and is one of our fraternity,-a catcher of fish. She has missed her quarry this time, and has moved further down towards the river, and falls again from a great height. There! You see her rise with a fish in her talons. POIET.-She gives an interest which I hardly expected to have found to this scene. Pray are there many of these animals in this country? HAL. Of this species, I have seen but these two, and I believe the young ones migrate as soon as they can provide for themselves; for this solitary bird requires a large space to move and feed in, and does not allow its offspring to partake its reign, or to live near it. Of other species of the eagle, there are some in different parts of the mountains, particularly of the Osprey; and of the great fishing or brown eagle; and I once saw a very fine and interesting sight in one of the Crags of Ben Weevis, near Strathgarve, as I was going, on the 20th of |