PINE FORESTS OF THE SPEY. 475 



In huts of turf like these, with a hole in the roof that answered 

 the double purpose of allowing the light to enter and the smoke 

 to escape, resided the rude clansmen, active, hardy, and daring, 

 who followed their warlike lords to the raid of the lowland 

 plains, but who at home, gentle and affectionate, as all true 

 Highlanders have ever been, lived in the enjoyment of happi- 

 ness, such as is not always possessed by those whose comforts 

 are more apparent. Amid the smoke and soot of many a High- 

 land hut there is yet more real happiness than is to be found in 

 the stately mansions of milder climes. Look at those boys, 

 " just let loose from school," who have gathered to gaze upon 

 us. " The rose of England'' blooms not on their cheeks, which, 

 young as they are, have already been blanched by the cold 

 blasts, and freckled by the summer heats ; but their sinews 

 are firm, their limbs are clean, and their " step is light on the 

 heath." Their clothing is scanty as well as homely, some of 

 them even have merely a bit of blanket wrapt around their 

 loins in place of trowsers ; but is there one among them that 

 shrinks from the " bitter biting blast," for fear of which 

 our inside passengers scarcely allow themselves air enough for 

 respiration I What a difference between these young moun- 

 taineers, unencumbered with superfluous fat, and the massive 

 younglings of the Lancashire yeomen ! But again we proceed 

 amid the snow, and passing a small lake, partially frozen, ob- 

 serve on it a large flock of Ducks, which are certainly Golden- 

 eyed Garrots, although the driver calls them Teal, a name 

 which he would probably give to every species of duck except- 

 ing the ^lallard. By the houses and in the corn-yards are 

 seen the Sparrow, Chaffinch, Yellow Bunting, Robin, Hedge 

 Chanter, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Thrush, and Lark ; but there 

 are no Fieldfares or Redwings, and the Blackbird is rarely met 

 with. All along are scattered at wide intervals pairs of Hooded 

 Crows, Corvus Cornix, in place of which w^ould be found in 

 the interior of the south of Scotland, the Carrion Crow, Corvus 

 Corone. On the dreary descent of the Monagh-leadh moun- 

 tains no other birds were seen, excepting a single specimen of 

 that last mentioned, a Buzzard, and a Heron. But now, the 

 prospect changes ; the Moray Frith is stretched out before us, 



