THE TTNE. 25 



almost constantly found in the stomachs of the hirlings of the 

 Nith and Solway. On the 4th of September of the same year, 

 seven more whilings or hirlings were examined at Fisherow ; 

 one, fifteen inches long. This was excellent eating ; it con- 

 tained in its stomach and intestines the reddish substance, but 

 nothing else (eggs of the Echinodermata) in the stomach and 

 intestines. The other six were like the previous one, both as 

 to their food and condition when used as food." 



CHAPTER II. 



THE TT:N T E. 



I HAYE ever preferred angling in summer and in autumn, 

 though well aware that April and May fishings are excellent. 

 The trouts are ready, and have got, or are getting, into good 

 order ; but the land is not, and the forests are black and leafless. 

 In April and in May the ground is drear, and cold, and black 

 in Scotland, and even in England. I prefer, therefore, June or 

 July, August and September, and even October, though late for 

 sport. I love to wander by the banks of streams, and on the 

 by-paths in lonely glens, when west winds are beginning to 

 strew the woodlands with yellow leaves ; when salmon and grilse 

 begin to run for the mountain streams, leaving their undiscovered 

 oceanic haunts ; pensive to mark, unpinched by eastern gales and 

 splashing rain and sleet, the water-ouzel flitting from pool to 

 pool, the campagnole plunging beneath the overhanging bank ; 

 to listen to the turtle-dove cooing in the wooded slopes ; to mark 

 the melancholy and solitary heron standing motionless by the 

 willow-shaded pool. In a word, let not the angler seek the 

 Scottish rivers too early. 



Springtime is beautiful, most beautiful ; but there is, properly, 

 no spring in Scotland. Until June, the country is desolate ; then 

 comes forth joyous Nature, young, fresh, reanimating the lifeless 

 earth. But pensive autumn has also its beauties ; though sum- 

 mer, bright and glowing, is the noontide of life. 



