LOCH CRERAN. 



thing else. It is quite remarkable how often crabs of 

 the less active class such as the long-legged spider- 

 crabs are found quite covered with a growth of sponge, 

 not only impeding their movements, but gradually eating 

 into their flesh. The old-fashioned belief in the good 

 health of wild animals of all kinds will not stand the 

 light of inquiry. Scarce a skate-fish but has a parasitic 

 worm near the edge of its mouth, safely housed out of 

 reach of the unwilling owner. 



On shore the sound of guns in continuous rapid 

 succession tells of a different class of sport to what we 

 are commonly accustomed in a country where our grouse 

 demand a good wholesome tramp. Only the determina- 

 tion to have rook pies, and plenty of them, and the 

 necessity, for the peace of the dwelling as well as the 

 satisfaction of the neighbourhood, to make a clearance 

 among the congregation of blackcoats discussing a case 

 of heresy in high quarters, could account for such objects 

 of slaughter. For a week past disconsolate youngsters, 

 who have failed in their first examination, and tumbled 

 to the foot of the tree in place of flapping among the 

 branches, have been observable day by day. Beautiful 

 creatures they are, too, and not unequal to using their 

 beaks with severity. The farmers, however, find rooks 

 just too plentiful, and so a riddance is made at the only 

 time when a rook is considered a desirable adjunct to 

 our cuisine Properly to make a rook pie, the breasts 

 alone of the youngsters should be used, and these should 

 be steeped in milk previously, in order to remove the 

 strong taste of the natural bird. To our mind they 

 should be skinned, not plucked. 



As we wander down the avenue under the noble 

 beeches, and look up at the rookery and its occupants, 



