STONEHAVEN TO CORTACHY. 225 



highest on record ; and the lucky lot came from the 

 grazing farm of Mrs. Kennedy, at Glenmaye. 



The Highland games of the clan Ogilvy were 

 in progress at Clova, but we did not care to wend our 

 way ten miles in search of them, and perhaps get 

 into difficulties behind Caen Lochen, and his cold, 

 rival height of Catlaw, both of which are sometimes 

 powdered with snow in June. A clear frosty night had 

 blackened the potatoes and the fir cones when we 

 left our snug ale-house " hole in the wall/' and made 

 our choice for the day between Clova and Cortachy. 

 This " bonnie house of Airlie" is in a very beautiful 

 spot five miles from Kirriemuir, and just under the 

 well-wooded spurs of the Grampians. The first two 

 or three miles are not inviting, but the rustic seats and 

 fountains along the road as you approach the Castle 

 grounds give you quite a " Rest and be Thankful" 

 feeling, and help to cheat the toil. 



A small flock of Shetland sheep, black, white, 

 and black-and-white, were in Craigiss field. They 

 had been there nearly a year, but they were still as 

 shy as rabbits, and would smeuse anywhere. Only a 

 few of the lambs have been killed as yet ; but the 

 second-year fleeces weighed from 2J to 3J Ibs., and 

 the ewes bid fair to kill at 10 Ibs. a quarter, so that 

 a more generous diet has worked well. The West 

 Highland crosses were in the snug lying of Ball Field 

 on the opposite side of the Southesk. They were 

 by a shorthorn from black cows, and the colours 

 have fallen black, dark brown, black with a brown 



Q 



