CHAPTER X. 



Eels held in abhorrence by Scotch Scruples overcome Fox- 

 hunter " Snakes and Puddock-stools" Deformed Trout 

 Brown Trout in Glomack in the Findhorn " Great 

 spotted Ling" Singular effect offish-diet" Sour Skate" 

 Queer fancy of Cow. 



T^ELS are regarded by the Scotch generally 

 with the greatest possible aversion, amount- 

 ing to a loathing quite as great as they would feel 

 towards snakes, to which they seem to consider 

 them closely akin. This is really a misfortune, for 

 there is scarcely a loch or river in Scotland, which 

 does not swarm with them the lochs particularly ; 

 and an excellent and easily attainable article of 

 food is thus lost to them. They do not, however, 

 appear to entertain the same repugnance to Con- 

 ger-eels, which are not unfrequently eaten by the 

 fishermen and others living along the coast. 



Strong as this prejudice is, I have yet known 

 one or two instances when inhabitants of the 

 Highlands have been induced to overcome it, and 

 have generally found that when they had once 



