IRELAND. 165 



numerous beautiful cascades meet ^the eye, and present a great 

 variety of the most picturesque views. The middle lake is the 

 smallest, and is greatly indented with bogs and creeks, surrounded 

 with dark groves of trees. 



There is splendid trout-fishing in these waters. Salmon are not 

 so very numerous. Trout have been caught here of great size ; 

 and the quality is very superior to fish caught in many other waters 

 in Ireland. 



The kind of flies requisite for these lakes, depends greatly on 

 the state of the weather. If the day be dull and the wind high, 

 large gaudy ones will often succeed best; whereas the very 

 reverse must be the case when the day is clear and little wind. A 

 skilful angler can seldom make any serious mistake in this 

 matter. 



The upper lake of Killarney is encircled with mountains of vast 

 height, and ornamented with wood ; and from the bright surface of 

 the waters emerge huge rocks, crowned with the arbutus, whose 

 dark leaves form a beautiful contrast to its scarlet fruit. The 

 islands of the lake are of fantastic shapes, a circumstance 

 which has induced the country people to fancy resemblances 

 between them and certain objects, as a man-of-war, the church, &c. 

 The craggy summits ^ of these islands give an air of sublimity to 

 the scene winch itjs impossible to describe. Shrubs and plants, in 

 immense variety, line the bold and lofty shore, and suggest to the 

 mind the beautiful lines of the poet of nature : 



" Here spring the living herbs profusely wild, 

 O'er all the deep-green earth, beyond the power 

 Of botanist to number up their tribes ; 

 "Whether he steals along the lonely dale 

 In silent search, or climb the mountain rock, 

 !Fired by the nodding verdure of the brow. 

 With such a liberal hand hath nature flung 

 Their seeds abroad, blown them about in winds 

 Innumerous, mixed them in the nursing mould. 5 ' 



In travelling in the neighbourhood of the Lakes of Killarney, 

 the most sublime views open out to the angling tourist among the 

 mountains. Every league changes the landscape, and new and 

 interesting objects pass in constant succession before the en- 

 chanted eye. Now we are directed to sublime heights and craggy 

 eminences, the haunts of the eagle and other birds of prey, and 

 then again look down on the glossy and tremulous waves, which 

 reflect the aspiring and umbrageous trees, which clothe the giddy 

 summits. Sounds are here repeated and retained with surprising 

 and bewitching effect. They float along the agitated air with 

 angelic harmony, and issue from the deep grottos and recesses of 

 mountains like so many celestial voices. 



The island of Innisfalien is full of interest and beauty. The 



