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TABLE OF CONTENTS.
A PLEA FOR THE WASTES.
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.
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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45
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 61
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
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
83
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
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
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101
116
120
CRAP-NA-GOWER.
The bearded chief.-Naval expedition against his territories.--Chief
and his henchman slain
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
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
142
148
THE OTTER.
Otter hounds.-Terriers.-Fowmarte a good substitute for an
otter.-Trapping otters.-Seals.-Otter and young
Water mouse.-Water rats.-Otter's tactics when hunted
ones.-
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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