238 FIELD-NOTES FOR THE YEAR. CH. XVII. 



when I have been wild-fowl shooting in that direc- 

 tion, I have often gone in to screen myself from the 

 cold. During the absence of the fishermen the hut 

 is tenanted by rabbits, who make themselves quite 

 at home, digging holes in the turf walls, etc. The 

 life of the fishermen in this place must be like that 

 of a lighthouse-keeper. During high tides they are 

 quite cut off from the mainland, and although at 

 low water their place of abode is no longer an 

 island, yet that part of the shore opposite the bar is 

 a kind of wilderness little frequented by any one, 

 being at a long distance from any road or path, 

 with an extensive tract of rough and all but impass- 

 able country extending in every direction. It is, 

 however, a favourite resort of mine, being the undis- 

 turbed abode of many wild animals. The roebuck 

 and blackcock live in tolerable security there, and 

 would increase to a very great extent were their 

 young ones not killed by foxes and other vermin, 

 who prowl about without danger of trap or poison. 

 I had heard that the lochs here called Loch Lee 

 had no fish in them of any kind ; but seeing the 

 numerous tracks of otters, and also the cormorants 

 frequently fishing in them, I determined to ascer- 

 tain what these animals came for; being pretty 

 sure that some kind of fish must be the attraction. 

 Accordingly, having made up a long " set line," i.e. 



