224 HILL BIRDS OF SCOTLAND 



big snowfield : notwithstanding days of tropical weather, 

 the wreath at its centre must have been forty feet deep, 

 and from its lower end a burn of ice-cold water, clear as 

 crystal, was issuing, and was hurrying down the hillside 

 to join itself to the larger stream below. At the edge 

 of the snow, plant life, released a few hours before from 

 its long winter sleep, was as yet brown and apparently 

 devoid of all vitality. A few yards beyond, the delicate 

 blades of grass could be seen forcing their way upwards, 

 and various Alpine ferns pushed forth their fronds, still 

 tightly rolled and brown to the eye. Still farther removed 

 from the region of snow, the hill face was covered with 

 plants showing a soft, pleasing green, and here and there 

 the cushion pink, with its thickly-clustered blooms, tinged 

 the hill with pink ; or the starry saxifrage's snow-white 

 blossom was bathed in the spray of the snow burn. Our 

 view extended to the hills on the western seaboard fifty 

 miles distant, and as we watched we could see the soft 

 grey clouds, carrying with them grateful mist and rain 

 to the parched country, gradually roll in from the great 

 waters, and blot out the hills one by one. 



It was some hours later ere they reached our hills, 

 but during their journey over Scotland they had shed 

 their valuable gift of moisture, and here, where the glens 

 were parched and the crops in danger of ruin, only the 

 lightest of showers moistened the thirsty ground. Away 

 from the westerly wind, while the sun still shone, the heat 

 was intense, and as we left the plateau and descended 

 into the corrie known to the hill -man as Coire Dhoundail^ 

 the scent of countless blaeberry plants was carried up 

 to us on the breeze — that distinctive scent which has such 

 charm, if alone from the memories of the hills which it 

 calls to mind. 



To all who know the high grounds the aroma of blae- 

 berry must be a familiar thing, even if he who appreciates 



