70 FIELD-NOTES FOR THE YEAR. CH. XXIV. 



long and varied tract of woodland, the road sud- 

 denly emerges into the rich open corn-land of the 

 most fertile district in Scotland, near the bay of 

 Findhorn, where the river, as if tired by its long 

 and rapid course, gradually and slowly mixes itself 

 with the salt water of the Moray Firth. By 

 crossing the river near this spot, another very 

 different kind of country is reached the strange 

 sandhills of Findhorn or Culbin. Thus, in a 

 very few hours* drive as great a variety of country 

 is passed through as could be found in any part 

 of the island, each portion of which is character- 

 istic and interesting. 



Forres itself is one of the prettiest and cleanest 

 little towns in the kingdom. The entrance from 

 the river Findhorn is extremely picturesque ; and 

 the bright sparkling burn, with the public bleach- 

 ing-green close to the town, always gives it a gay 

 and lively appearance. The town magistrates, too, 

 with public-spirited zeal, have laid out pleasure- 

 grounds and walks on the wooded hill above the 

 town, which, as regards the views which they com- 

 mand of rich cultivated land, are probably not sur- 

 passed by any in the kingdom. 



During the time that the snow remained on the 

 ground the rabbits in a wood near my house took 

 to barking the fine old hollies, thus destroying trees 



