54 AN ANGLER'S RAMBLES 



of the Nairn derive the chief portion of their marine nourishment 

 in summer. They afford sustenance also to immense numbers 

 and a great variety of aquatic birds, which are further encouraged 

 by a range of brackish lakes, stretching in a southerly direction, 

 to visit this portion of our coast. 



While at Nairn in 1836, I paid two visits to the river Find- 

 horn, armed merely with a trouting-rod. The salmon-fishings, 

 as far up as the Ess, were, if I mistake not, at that period in the 

 hands of the Messrs. Hogarth of Aberdeen, the liberty to use the 

 rod, as at present, being reserved by the proprietors. Being 

 satisfied in those days with the humbler pursuit of trout-fishing, 

 I made no effort to obtain permission to try my hand over the 

 salmon-casts of this truly superb river. On the occasion of my 

 first visit to the Findhorn, I took advantage of a short cut lead- 

 ing from Nairn, by way of Moines, through Darnaway Forest, 

 which brought me unexpectedly to its banks at a point that 

 opposite Altyre perhaps unequalled in the landscape scenery 

 of any of our Scottish rivers. The Heronry was then in its 

 glory, and everything conspired to make deep the impression 

 wrought on me by what I beheld. The following sonnet is but 

 a very imperfect attempt to give words to some of the emotions 

 which passed through my mind on the occasion : 



THE FINDHORN. 



To the monastic mind thy solemn shade 

 Kindly accords, bewildering Darnaway ! 

 Here, those retiring powers whose hermit sway 

 The hordes of gross emotions hold obey'd, 

 Reign indolent on bank or flowery glade. 

 A deep unusual murmur meets my ear, 

 As if the oak's Briarean arms were sway'd 

 Far off in the wild wind. Like timorous deer, 



