THE SCREES. 97 



It is a peculiar feature of the scenery; is almost 

 everywhere inaccessible ; and this, whether 

 in its scarped portion, consisting of loose, 

 shifting debris, like a volcanic mountain, or 

 in its perpendicular and rent precipices. The 

 name is, I believe, provincial ; but whence 

 derived, I am ignorant, or what its exact 

 meaning. Perhaps it may be the synonyme 

 of scratch, implying the worn, naked, and torn 

 aspect of the mountain side. 



AMICUS. Indulge my curiosity about the 

 Botling. I have heard of the fish, thus called, 

 before, as peculiar to Wastwater, and as seldom 

 taken, except in the fall of the year, and then, 

 when running up the stream with the intent of 

 spawning. Do you consider it a distinct species 

 of the Salmonidae ? 



PISCATOK. I can speak of the Botling only 

 from what I have heard concerning it, for 

 I have never seen it. I owe all I know of it 

 chiefly to one of the statesmen of the place, 

 himself an angler, and whose house is the chief 

 resort of tourists, that which we first passed, 

 and found so crowded that we were obliged 

 to go to the next. According to him, the 

 Botling is always a male; he describes it as 

 H 



