CH. ii. OSPREY'S NEST WATER-OUSEL. 21 



We started from Inchnadamph inn in good time 

 in the morning, intending to reach Scowrie, about 

 twenty-one miles distant ; but the road being very 

 hilly, and a ferry intervening, we had to reckon 

 on many hours of travelling before we reached our 

 night's quarters. I walked on to look at the osprey's 

 nest on the old castle, and an interesting sight it 

 is, though I lamented the absence of the birds. 

 Why the poor osprey should be persecuted I know 

 not, as it is quite harmless, living wholly on fish, 

 of which every one knows that there is too great 

 an abundance in this country for the most rigid 

 preserver to grudge this picturesque bird his share. 

 The fact probably is that his skin is worth some- 

 thing to keepers and others, as they can always 

 get a few shillings for it, and therefore the bird is 

 doomed to destruction. The " auri sacra fames " 

 will soon put an end to his race in this country. 



In the midst of a steep and tolerably high water- 

 fall, perched on a small piece of projecting rock, 

 and surrounded by the dashing water, I saw one 

 of my favourite birds, the water-ousel, his white 

 breast conspicuous even amongst the white foam. 

 A twisted birch and a bunch of bright green fern 

 growing out of the rock, constantly watered by the 

 spray of the fall, made as pretty a little scene for a 

 painter as I ever saw. Water-ousels seem to prefer 



