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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
scenes. - Male
Strength and
post. Inveruran.-Peter Robertson. - Forest
golden eagle. The eyrie. Stalking the female.
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.
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
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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"
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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
57
LENNIE BURN.
Its romantic beauty and waterfall. - Burn trout.---Offshoot from the
burn.-Frogs.-Imprisoned trout and eels. -Their gaol habits
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
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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
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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
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
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101
THOMAS A'THING
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
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120
128
HINTS ON DEER-STALKING, ROE-HUNTING, AND
GROUSE-SHOOTING.
137 WOODCOCKS AND SNIPES.
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
142
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
•
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163
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
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