HABBIE'S HOW. 465 



tempted to fire, and then we should be breakers of the game- 

 laws, and disturbers of the peace of this sequestered valley. 

 These birds are Mr Robertson's, not ours. Here is a shepherd. 

 How far is it to Currie ? 



Shepherd. Six miles. Did the game-keeper not see you ? 



Orn. I suppose not, at least we did not see him. We shoot 

 no game. 



Shej). They dinna alloo folk wi' guns here. I dinna mis- 

 doubt ye, but I wad advise ye no to shoot ava, but pass on 

 quietly. 



Orn. Well, we promise. Now, Mr Audubon, here is a 

 pretty valley, with heathery hills on both sides, grass in the 

 bottom, and a clear brook, tempting to the mouth in this hot 

 weather. More grouse, one, two, three. 



Aud. I did not think there had been any so near town. 

 There must be good shooting on these hills. Your Grouse 

 never alights on trees, does it 1 all ours do, even the Willow 

 Grouse in winter, when it comes southward, as well as our 

 Partridge. 



Orn. Neither of our Ptarmigans perches on trees, but the 

 Black Grouse does. Here are three more Ring Ouzels, and 

 Pipits in abundance. This is a famous place of resort for the 

 Cuckoos, but it does not seem that they have arrived yet. 



Phys. A hare on the hill, scudding along ! I see a Sand- 

 piper by the brook in that hollow. 



Aud. Let us sit down a few minutes, then. There is a small 

 stripe of water coming down the rock. 



Orn. Yes, that is the celebrated waterfall, Niagara in minia- 

 ture, and this Habbie's How, for the history of which, and its 

 connection with Allan Ramsay, I refer you to the Society of 

 Scottish Antiquaries, or your friend Mr Maclaren. Here comes 

 a shepherd. A fine day, friend ! Is the lamb dead I 



Pastor. No, but its no like to live ; the drouth's o'er sair, 

 an' the sheep can get little to eat. 



Aud. Physiophilus comes with the Sandpiper. It is amaz- 

 ingly like our Totanus chloropygius. Five miles to Currie, and 

 nothing till then but water. Let us be oflf. Ah ! — a rattle-snake ! 



VOL. II. H H 



