148 AN ANGLER'S RAMBLES 



stretching opposite. An attempt was made by me a number of 

 years ago to embody, in the shape of a sonnet, one or two of the 

 leading features of this charming landscape. The sketch is 

 simply descriptive : 



LOCH ACHILTY. 



OF all sweet waters and soul-stirring spots, 



Remote from the contentions of mankind, 



Oftest repictured by my musing thoughts, 



Lies a bright lake among fair trees enshrined, 



Yclep'd Loch Achilty. A heath-grown crest, 



Surnamed the Tor, its eastern guardian stands, 



While Darroch Crag its dream-Jike screen expands 



Imprisoning the clear wave on the West,' 



Bright mimic bays with weeping birches fringed 



An islet ruin solitary deer 



And distant mountains by the sun-ray tinged 



At the mind's animating beck appear ; 



Nor unremember'd in the glowing scene 



Against a moss-grown stone, entranced two anglers lean. 



DEER OF TOR ACHILTY. 



TOR ACHILTY is important as one of the mirseries of our High- 

 land red-deer (Cervus eleplias). Its covers also abound in roes. 

 It is only, however, in the depth of winter, and during the height 

 of the rutting season, that the harts descend in any force from 

 the corries of Ben Wyvis or the wilds of Strath Conon to this 

 comparatively low district. On these occasions they are accused, 

 and not without reason, of doing a great deal of damage to the 

 turnip crops, which are now- a- days, to a large extent, raised in 

 the neighbourhood. The philandering of the stags on the Tor 

 with the hinds, may be recognised at a great distance by their 



