152 WILD LIFE OF SCOTLAND 



The scene has long been a resort of the curious, 

 the patriotic, and the sentimental. Its attractions 

 were discovered long years ago. Each of the two 

 islands, once farther from the shore, has pre-eminent 

 claims on a separate order of devotees. The in- 

 cidents of the one are just sufficiently far off to 

 have their harsher features veiled in the distance, 

 which lends enchantment to the historic retrospect. 

 Perhaps it owes not a little of its undying 

 attractions to the romantic genius of Scott ; and, 

 certainly, few who go are unacquainted with The 

 Abbot. The story of the other, as it was enacted 

 in the dimmer past, needs the deciphering of the 

 antiquary, and is thus of more restricted interest. 



Dreamy-eyed lovers of a vanished beauty, rowed 

 across to muse an hour amid the ruins of Mary's 

 castle prison ; if by moonlight so much the better. 

 With no less fervour beetle-browed Monkbarns 

 turned the prow toward St. Serfs. Time was 

 when these two groups formed the majority ; now 

 they are swallowed up, and scarcely noticeable there. 



The associations of the loch are no longer with 

 hermitage, or prison. It is now the delightful 

 resort of the pleasure-seeker. The new enthusiast 

 arrives at Kinross station with a large wicker- 

 basket, and several rods, while a fat hook-book 



