THE RIVER LAXFORD. 29 



her, he again ascended and new to the other end of the lake, 

 the rocks echoing his shrill cry. The poor bird, after making 

 one or two circuits of the lake, then new away far out of 

 sight, still keeping possession of the fish. He probably went 

 to look for the female at some known and frequented haunt, 

 as he new rapidly oft' in a direct line. He soon, however, 

 came over the lake again, and continued his night to and fro 

 and his loud cries for above an hour, still keeping the fish 

 ready for his mate. I at length heard the voices of my 

 friends, and we soon launched the boat. The osprey became 

 much agitated as we neared the rock where the nest was, 

 and dropped the fish he held into the water. We found two 

 beautiful eggs in the nest, of a roundish shape ; the colour 

 white, with numerous spots and marks of a fine rich red 

 brown. As we came away, we still observed the male bird 

 unceasingly calling and seeking for his hen. I was really 

 sorry I had shot her. 



This excursion to the lake hindered us so long, that, after 

 resting our horse at Ehiconnich, we did not reach Durness 

 till late at night. 



From Scowrie to Durness, particularly about Ehiconnich, 

 the road winds through a constant succession of the most 

 rocky, rugged, and wild glens that it is possible to imagine, 

 with here and there beautiful sheets of water, deep and 

 darkly shaded by the overhanging rocks, and occasionally 

 by small birch woods. Winding round the mouth of 

 the Laxford river, we saw an osprey fishing in, or 

 rather over, the pools near the bay. I am told that the 

 Laxford is one of the best, if not quite the best, sea-trout 

 stream in the North. There are gloriously wild and rocky 

 mountains rising from the landward side of the road, 

 with the most fantastic and picturesque outlines. The bay 

 at Ehiconnich, too, is very beautiful. The whole road, indeed, 

 commands one constant and endless succession of scenery 

 equally magnificent and wild ; nor does the traveller drive a 

 mile throughout this journey without some new and most 

 interesting view varied, too, as it is by rock, water, and 

 mountain, by the rich brown of the heather, the vivid green 

 of the birch woods, and the grassy banks of some of the 

 streams, and also by the deep blue of the lochs. The eye 

 never wearies of being kept constantly occupied in admiring 

 the surrounding objects. I shall not forget, however, one 

 part of our drive between Ehiconnich and Durness, where 

 3 



