220 EXTRACTS FROM NOTE-BOOKS. CH. XXXIV. 



the then state of the ground ; and I also thought 

 it not unlikely that we might fall in with the 

 track of an otter or wild-cat during our walk up 

 the river side. 



As soon as we emerged from the woods a beau- 

 tiful sight opened to us; the morning sun, although 

 not yet visible, tinged the mountain tops to the 

 west, their snow -covered summits shining with 

 all the varied colours of the rainbow : soon, how- 

 ever, the bright sun of a frosty winter's day rose 

 behind us, making the old birch-trees which grew 

 on the slopes above the river throw out their dark 

 shadows on the snow. Here and there a roe- 

 buck or two " stotted " (to use Donald's favourite 

 expression) over the turf wall into the shelter 

 of the fir- woods, out of which we had just come ; 

 the grouse -cocks were crowing on the juniper- 

 covered hillocks, which showed their lively green 

 above the surrounding snow ; and the blackcocks 

 launched themselves off the birch- trees, where they 

 seemed to have been awaiting the first rays of the 

 morning sun. Everything around us was full of 

 beauty ; and dreary as a mountainous country is 

 when covered with snow, still it is magnificent, 

 varied too as it now was by wood and water and 

 numerous living creatures, all appearing to be in 

 as full enjoyment of life as if it had been a genial 



