TABLE OF CONTENTS.

A PLEA FOR THE WASTES.

Page

A shrewd citizen's plan for making money of the Premier Loch at

the expense of its sterile “ Ben.”—His partnership in the firm sug-

gested.-Loch Bah, and Lochan Nahachalach.-Juxtaposition of

golden and sea eagles' eyries.-Corrach-Bah.-Expedition from

Glasgow to the Black Mount.-Trolling rods in danger of being

impressed as sailors.-Rescued by a landlord and returned by a

post.-Inveruran.-Peter Robertson.-Forest scenes.-Male

golden eagle. The eyrie.-Stalking the female.-Strength and

ferocity of eagles.-The author in "his chariot" drives to Loch

Awe.-Sandy M'Kenzie and his man Johnnie.-Castle Connal.-

A Highland chief stabbed by a penknife! A fifty year old

badger.-Anecdotes of badgers.-Hooking a fine ferox opposite

the Gled's nest.-Johnnie's government grievances.-The mur-

dered Tinker's Cairn.-His savage wife.-Well meant endeavours

to set Johnnie and the government at one again.-Logical reason-

ing to that effect.-Adieu to poor Sandy and Loch Awe.

. 1

SALMON ANGLING.

Its fascination to men of genius.-Stately rivers.-Highland salmon
streams.-Rivers in flood.-When fallen low.-General directions
as to the size and colour of the fly to suit the different states of

the water.-Trolling with par.-With minnow.-Worm angling

for salmon.-Daintiness of salmon. Their occasional greedi-

ness.-Causes which prevent fish from rising to a fly.

"IT'S A FAR CRY TO LOCH OW."

Haunts of the salmo-ferox.-Level shores.-Steep rocky banks.—

Trolling depth when loch is large or discoloured.-When small

and clear.-Baits suitable for both moods of the water.-Five

days' trolling on Loch Awe.-King Alexander's hunting ground.—

The black knight of Loch Ow.-Ben Cruachan wild cats.—Castle

Connal Bay. The estuary of the Awe." The Foord at the fit

o' the Loch".

ROCK AND RIVER OUSELS.

Rock ousels gregarious in autumn.-Feed on fruit.-Hatch in

low bushes on lonely waste ground.-Young have no ring.—The

river ouzel also a bird of solitude in spring.-Frequents the

mountain burn and moor loch.-Comes down in winter to larger

streams. Congregate at that time. Sometimes feed on very

minute substances.-Cream-coloured water ouzel.-Sing in hard

frost

LENNIE BURN.

Page

THE PEAT ISLAND.

Its attractions for wild fowl.-Spring and summer visitors.-Win-

ter or the season.-Crowded with company at that time.-The

Castle of Galbraith.-Eight days' duck-stalking during the gay

season

27

Its romantic beauty and waterfall.-Burn trout.-Offshoot from the

burn.-Frogs.-Imprisoned trout and eels.-Their gaol habits. 61

45

57

66

OWLS.

"The Hoolet" no favourite with the common people.-Curious

habits of two tame ivy owls.-Tame white owls.-They occa-

sionally hoot.-Less nocturnal than the brown.-The long-eared

owl.-Builds in the Castle Rock of Edinburgh.-The short-eared

owl

WILD PIGEONS.

The cushat or wood-pigeon.-Spring habits.-Winter flocks.-A

white ring-dove. The stranger.-Wild pigeon or stock-dove.—

Not the stocker of the pigeon-house.-Rock-doves the wild

originals of the dove-cot.-The turtle-dove

THOMAS A'THING

THE HILL POACHER.

English poaching.-Scotch lowland poachers.-Highland poachers.

-Their sporting propensities.-Family likeness.-Juvenile

poachers. A female poacher.-Gregor More.-A poaching

minister. His exploits.-Shooting a shepherd for a deer

THE BASS ROCK.

Its effect when first seen.-Numerous varieties of sea-fowl.-

Raven and peregrine.-Martyrs' cells.-The look down.-A

ponderous son of Vulcan floored.-A pithy smuggler.—Cliff-

men.-Old Jack.-Canty Bay

CRAP-NA-GOWER.

The bearded chief.-Naval expedition against his territories.---Chief

and his henchman slain

Page

83

94

101

116

120

128

HINTS ON DEER-STALKING, ROE-HUNTING, AND

GROUSE-SHOOTING .

. 137

WOODCOCKS AND SNIPES.

Page

Regularity of flight.-Prefer open ground at first.-Come to the
covert springs at dusk.—Shooting Woodcocks.-Irregular belts
of plantation.-Narrow strips.-Large tangled copses on the
steep hillside.-Woodcocks breed in the islands of Loch
Lomond. Their evening flight.-Mire Snipes.-Jacks

A SPRING WEEK IN THE WEST HIGHLANDS.

Drive from the Holy Loch to Loch Eck.-A Jolly hermit.-Dal-
mally.—Salmon fishing at the falls of the Urchay.—A gowk's
errand. The otter's whistle.-Sea eagle's eyrie.-Large pike
at Kilchurn.-Voracity of pike.-Gourmand cod

THE OTTER.

Otter hounds.-Terriers.-Fowmarte a good substitute for an
otter.-Trapping otters.-Seals.-Otter and young ones.-
Water mouse.-Water rats.-Otter's tactics when hunted

FRAGMENTS.

Eagle and hill hare.-Grouse.-The effect of food on their colour.-
Arts of ground-hatching birds to decoy from their young.—The
Royston crow.-Eagle's love to her young.—A pattern to step-
mothers.-Large autumnal dragon-fly.-Stories about the
nightingale and other small birds.-Adders.-Norway rats.—
Stoats. Weasels.-White Pheasants.-White Deer.-Stalking
Alpine hares.-The Nightjar .

142