CH. VII. FISHING OF OSPREY. 113 



rare in Britain, it frequents this locality, which seems 

 particularly to suit it. Large tracts of the country 

 here are almost unseen by human beings from one 

 end of the year to the other. Covered with gray 

 rocks, and broken up into a succession of small 

 hollows, in most of which there are lochs, all 

 abounding in trout, this district is exactly suited 

 for the osprey, while it is unfit for any other 

 animal; the sheep remain more on the extensive 

 and grassy slopes, where they not only find plenty 

 of food, but are more under the eye and protection 

 of mankind. A shepherd in the broken, rocky 

 tracts of country can have no chance of finding 

 or seeing his flock ; while, at the same time, the 

 pasturage is worth but little, consisting wholly of 

 rank heather. Nor is the ground at all better 

 adapted for the grouse shooter, as he would never 

 keep sight of his dogs for two minutes together. 

 For these reasons the osprey is but little disturbed, 

 and lives unmolested for years. Even if a shep- 

 herd does pass the loch, the bird sits securely on 

 her isolated rock, out of reach of all danger, as 

 her nest can only be approached, in most instances, 

 by swimming. I generally saw the osprey fishing 

 about the lower pools of the rivers, near their 

 mouths, and a beautiful sight it is. The long- 

 winged bird hovers (as a kestrel does over a mouse) 

 VOL. i. I 



