80 FORAYS AMONG SALMON AND DEER. 



direction it wound along for some miles, gradually 

 narrowing until it became lost among the hills in the 

 blue distance. 



Here and there might be seen a solitary heron 

 dreaming on one leg, while others were picking their 

 way over the shingle, or standing motionless, knee- 

 deep in water, as they watched for the fish that swam 

 heedlessly by, and in a moment were transported from 

 their proper element to the bowels of their greedy 

 devourers. 



Further out, the great northern diver, or other 

 smaller water-fowl, were dimpling the surface of the 

 frith, as they washed their plumage and disported 

 beneath the morning sun; while now and then a heavy 

 splash marked the course of the salmon, who hugged 

 the shore on his way to the higher waters of some river. 

 I looked in vain for any signs of a seal. Though not 

 at all uncommon in this arm of the sea, indeed, much 

 more numerous than the fishermen would have them, 

 not a head of them was visible this morning. But 

 more than half-way across the water, two or three 

 porpoises were ploughing the deep, and following 

 doubtless the course of some shoal of herrings, in their 

 peculiar rolling fashion. 



I had an anecdote related to -me lately by a High- 

 land gentleman, which illustrates the sagacity and skill 

 of these fish in the pursuit of their prey. He was 

 standing on a small rocky promontory jutting out into 

 a salt-water loch, in front of the hotel at which he was 

 staying. His attention was attracted by some objects 

 in the distance, which, as they came nearer, proved to 

 be five porpoises. They were making straight for the 

 part of the cliff where he was stationed ; and as it was 

 a most beautiful day, and the water perfectly clear, as 

 well as deep up to the very cliff itself, he determined 



