1892-93-] Natural History Notes. 61 



thought I should have had a chance in the moonlight with the 

 former, which with the latter was next to impossible. Not 

 being quite sure of the way across the moor, I resolved to go 

 round by the river, though adding considerably to the distance. 

 As I proceeded, it suddenly became very dark, and began to 

 snow heavily. It was only a shower, however, as in half an 

 hour it had cleared up, and the moon shone out conspicuously. 

 By this time I had passed the junction of the river with the 

 deep corrie burn, crossed the stepping-stones, and was ascend- 

 ing the circuitous path up the steep bank, when I stopped to 

 take breath. Looking down, I saw that the moon was shining 

 brightly on the water, and about a hundred yards below me I 

 observed a dark object paddling up the brook. Taking the 

 rifle out of the cover, I stalked quietly down the hill, keep- 

 ing my eye on the object till within thirty yards of the water. 

 Having about a minute to wait till it got fairly opposite me, 

 and getting a chance as it swam past me, I aimed as I best 

 could and pressed the trigger. For a second or two I could 

 see nothing, and the "roar" of the rifle, reverberating among the 

 mountains, seemed to be ten times louder than usual amid the 

 silence that prevailed. Running down, I found the otter float- 

 ing with the current, and wading in, I secured it. The bullet 

 had struck it on the neck and dislocated it, causing instant 

 death. It was a fine specimen of a dog otter, and measured 3 

 ft. 10 in. from point of nose to tip of tail. I threw him over 

 my shoulder and carried him home to the keeper's house in 

 triumph. Macdonald and his wife congratulated me on my 

 success ; and as another shower of snow was falling heavily, he 

 remarked that I might be able to track one the following day, 

 should it be fair weather. Before going to bed the ground was 

 covered to the depth of a couple of inches with new-fallen 

 snow, and as it was frosty and settled-looking, it augured well 

 for success on the morrow. 



Macdonald advised me to look the Steelend, the Glenmore, 

 and the deep corrie burns, and to take his retriever with me, 

 he having to go down the country to send his game south. 

 It was unfortunate that I could not get his company and 

 assistance, but, elated with my success the previous day, I 

 took the gun (not the rifle), and, accompanied by the retriever, 

 started in great spirits. Repairing first to Glenmore burn, I 

 had not proceeded far when I came on the tracks of an otter. 



