AND ANGLING SONGS. 2/7 



I have authenticated to me, by the farmer who captured them, 

 an instance of two otters which, not many years ago, took up 

 their quarters in an old fox-cover among whins, and committed 

 extensive depredations among the young lambs. Under the im- 

 pression that the mischief was perpetrated by some loose dog, 

 traps were set, and the culprits apprehended. The scene of 

 action lay not far from the village of Gordon, in Berwickshire. 



Otter-hunting, it may be remarked, is on the ascendency as a 

 sport ; and one of the reasons for it plainly is, that owing to the 

 drainage system in vogue, otters, as well as rabbits, are more 

 abundant than formerly. 



THE WARDERS OF THE WATERS. 



i. 

 YE warders of the waters ! 



Is the ajder'd stream-side free ? 

 Hath the salmon sped 

 From his winter bed 

 Adown to the azure sea? 

 Rideth afloat 

 The fisher's boat 

 Below the white-thorn tree 1 



ii. 



Go forth, ye anglers jovial ! 



The waters are open wide ; 



No longer we ward 



From vernal sward 

 The glittering salmon glide ; 



Free at your will 



The crystal rill 

 And rolling torrent-side. 



