NATURAL HISTORY AND SPORT OF BUTE. 97 



the great boon given to the sportsman-naturalist 

 by the present universal system of leasing shoot- 

 ing-ground. A goodly number of our keenest and 

 best sportsmen are naturalists also, and when to 

 this accomplishment is added an enthusiastic love 

 of scenery, their enjoyments are greatly enhanced. 

 For the last thirty-two years I have been one of 

 these autumnal wanderers, and rented shootings 

 not only in the north, south, east, and west of 

 Scotland, but also in the islands, thus having the 

 opportunity of comparing different districts of the 

 country, and noting, by the effects of climate, &c., 

 on its various fauna, the slight causes which 

 often diverge into wide results. 



My present abode, the romantic old Castle of 

 Kames in Bute, has supplied me with a fresh field 

 of amusement and research in the study of that 

 island, chiefly by noticing the absence of birds and 

 creatures familiar enough in many of my other 

 quarters, or the presence of some rarely met with 

 in rougher districts, but tempted to a summer 

 sojourn in this genial clime. 



One of my last shooting quarters being in Mull, 

 a comparison of the two islands was a natural and 

 G 



