100 



A very narrow stripe of ground intervenes between 

 the termination of the hills and the brink of the 

 lake. The isles scattered towards the southern end 

 of the loch present a most charming sight. They 

 are for the most part covered with wood. 



There is excellent fishing in the loch, which con- 

 tains trout of great size, and a goodly portion of sal- 

 mon and salmon- trout. The Leven Water, in 

 extent about seven miles, is a piece of good fishing 

 water. Smollett, who was born and educated in 

 this locality, has sung the praises of the Leven in 

 an ode, which has retained a well-merited celebrity. 



" On Leven' s banks, while free to rove, 

 And tune the rural pipe to love, 

 I envied not the happiest swain 

 That ever trod the Arcadian plain. 

 Pure stream ! in whose transparent wave 

 My youthful limbs I wont to lave ; 

 No torrents strain thy limpid source, 

 No rocks impede thy dimpling course, 

 That sweetly warbles o'er its bed 

 With white, round, polish' d pebbles spread. 

 "While lightly pois'd the scaly brood 

 In myriads cleave thy crystal flood ; 

 The springing trout in speckled pride, 

 The salmon, monarch of the tide, 

 The ruthless pike, intent on war, 

 The silver eel, and mottled par. 

 Devolving from thy parent lake, 

 A charming maze thy waters make, 

 By bowers of birch, and groves of pine, 

 And edges flower' d with eglantine. 

 Still on thy banks so gaily green 

 May numerous flocks and herds be seen, 



