288 TOUR IN SUTHERLANDSHIRE. 



my opinion, the only British ducks worth killing for the 

 larder. 



On leaving the birch woods the country became wild and 

 dreary, and frequently we had no small difficulty in making 

 our way along the trackless snow. The otters had turned 

 off here and there from the river, and we saw no more of 

 their footsteps. A wild cat had been hunting at one part of 

 the banks, but had crossed where some stones raised above 

 the water had enabled her to do so tolerably dry footed. 

 Although not so unwilling to get wet as the domestic cat, 

 this animal appears to avoid the water as much as possible ; 

 though I have known instances of their swimming rivers. 



" We must try to get a brace of grouse or something to 

 take up to the shepherd's," said my companion, " as you're no 

 that fond of braxy, sir, and I doubt if we shall get any other 

 'ven-ni-son' there the night." "Indeed I am not fond of 

 braxy," was my answer ; " and a grouse or two we must get." 

 But we had first to eat our luncheon, having breakfasted 

 hastily at a very early hour, and we determined to perform 

 this ceremony at a spring about a mile ahead of us ; and as I 

 remembered having frequently seen a pair or two of ducks 

 about it in frosty weather, when we drew near the place we 

 advanced with great care, keeping ourselves well concealed 

 till within twenty yards of the spot. " Now, then, Donald, 

 you look over the bank, and see if any ducks are feeding on 

 the grass about the well. If there are, you shoot at them on 

 the ground, and I will take them flying." Donald wormed 

 himself on a little, regardless of filling his pockets with 

 snow, and having looked cautiously over, beckoned to me to 

 come nearer, which I did. " There are six bonny grey dukes 

 feeding about the well, Sir ; three drakes and three dukes." 

 " Take care then, Donald, and get two or three of them in a 

 line before you fire." After waiting a little with his gun 

 pointed towards the place, Donald fired one barrel, and then 

 as they rose the other. The latter killed none "ut mos 

 fuit." However, as only four rose (two of which, both 

 mallards, fell to my two barrels), I presumed that he had 

 done some execution with his first shot ; and sure enough he 

 had riddled two most effectually. 



The place where the ducks had been feeding was a bright 

 green spot in the midst of the snow, caused by the spreading 

 of the waters of a fine unfreezing spring. Around it, also, 

 were the tracks of several deer who had been cropping the 



