A LARGE ADDER. 35 



The only thing I dreaded was, that anything should give way 

 about the oars, or the pins that they worked upon, as nothing 

 could then have saved us. However, Diis aliter visum, and 

 we landed safely, but wet enough, on the opposite shore, and 

 right glad we were both when we looked back at the water, 

 which was perfectly white with foam, to feel our feet once 

 more on terra firma. I mention this incident as a warning 

 to any person who may fish or sail on any of these fresh- 

 water lakes surrounded by mountains, to beware of sudden 

 squalls of this kind; for in this instance nothing Ijut a strong 

 arm and good rowing saved us from certain drowning, which 

 would nevertheless have been our fate had the least bolt or 

 fastening given way about the oars, for once broaching to 

 must have swamped us. The wind soon fell, the day be- 

 came hot, and the beautiful lake with its green banks was 

 again as smooth as glass. Few of the gulls had laid, but we 

 found some more eggs of the Grey Ing goose. One nest was 

 in a very peculiar situation for a wild goose, being in the midst 

 of and overhung by a thicket of small birch trees. The otter 

 seems to live in undisturbed security in the islands on all these 

 lakes, as the heather, &c., is full of their roads and marks. 



On the stones near the lake I picked up a large adder. 

 As I held her up by her throat it was curious to see the 

 fierce expression of rage the creature v put on, and also how 

 long its teeth projected, as if eager to be fastened in my 

 hand, while a drop of bright yellow liquid oozed out at the 

 points of each of its venomous fangs. I knew that this was 

 the poison, but had no idea that these reptiles could produce 

 so large a quantity at once. 



Loch. Laighal, Loch Maddie, and Loch Naver all abound in 

 the finest trout, and contain also plenty of the Salmo ferox 

 or great lake trout, which is caught only by trolling, or by 

 lines baited with small fish. In Loch Naver there are plenty 

 of salmon : I am told that they rise freely and well when 

 the wind is from the south-east, but seldom when it blows 

 from any other quarter. 



CHAPTER IV. 



Return to Sutherland- -Travelling from Edinburgh Skye Terrier ; peculiari- 

 ties of Lairg Loch Shin River Shin Reserve of the English Mr. 

 Young's Experiments respecting Salmon ; Anecdotes of Salmon ; Manner 

 of Spawning; Food of Salmon Drive to Aultnaharrow Curlews, &c. 

 Loch Naver Phaiaropes Widgeon Greenshank, &c. 



June 9th. HAVING been called suddenlv to England in the 



