TABLE OF CONTENTS.

A PLEA FOR THE WASTES.

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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

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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.

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“ 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

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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

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OWLS.

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“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

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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 101

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THOMAS A'THING

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THE BASS ROCK.

Its effect when first seen.-)

1.-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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CRAP-NA-GOWER.

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

and his henchman slain

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HINTS ON DEER-STALKING, ROE-HUNTING, AND

GROUSE-SHOOTING .

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WOODCOCKS AND SNIPES.

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Regularity of Alight.- 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

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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

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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 163

ones.

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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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