APRIL, 1882. 159 



forest, with its magnificent fronds, may secure to certain 

 classes of life, the extraordinary growth of these masses 

 of fine filaments that cover the foreshores in summer, 

 must ensure far greater security to masses of fish spawn, 

 and still more delicate organisms, that could scarcely 

 otherwise escape the onslaught of crabs and starfish, &c. 

 For although it is certain that a proportion of fish spawn 

 floats on the surface of the water, it is equally certain 

 that other classes of fish deposit their eggs in gelatinous 

 masses on stones and stems of seaware on the foreshores. 



As we crossed the softer ground, we found the iris 

 shooting up strongly, and spring sitting up, after rubbing 

 its eyes, all along the hillside. Next week he will bestir 

 himself with a rush, unless this somewhat keen norther 

 from the Bens should benumb his awakening faculties. 



Seed ! certainly, scattered among the moss, but such 

 as never grew on a Scottish hillside, nor was stored in a 

 Scottish stackyard. We lift the Indian corn that has 

 been thrown here and there, and the truth flashes across 

 us. The squirrels ! for only their teeth could have 

 punctured each corn with a dean hole through the ger- 

 minating end so as to prevent their growth when stowed 

 away. The little rascals have been robbing the pheasants 

 of the winter provinder put down in netted enclosures for 

 them, and storing it away among the trees, for the evil 

 day that has not yet come this year. Good teeth and 

 good heads to guide them, ere they could show so much 

 intelligence as well as foresight ! 



APRIL, 1882. 



Although we have had the north and north-east winds 

 for most of this week, drying up the country most 



