SCENERY ON THE WAY. 69 



high above all the rest, the wood pigeon still roosting 

 or cooing among the clusters of fir-apples. Many a 

 tiny burn tinkled its way from stone to stone, and, 

 creeping quietly across our course, fell over the pre- 

 cipice and was lost on the beach below. Occasionally 

 a larger stream, swollen into a torrent, dashed from 

 rock to rock down towards the road, and then, when 

 within a yard of our wheels, suddenly disappeared 

 through a stone-built tunnel beneath us ; while up its 

 course might be seen a few solitary wild roses still 

 lingering in the shade, as though loath to withdraw 

 their charms from these lovely " neuks ; " and some- 

 times, above all, a slight rainbow hung suspended in 

 steaming spray. 



When we came to the open moor, we saw the cock 

 grouse stationed here and there, like a solitary sentinel 

 on some hillock, watching our approach with jealous 

 eye; while now and then we detected a brood of young 

 birds crouching beneath some whin-bush. Presently, 

 we caught sight of a small bird skimming across the 

 muir in pursuit of a larger one, which, as they winged 

 their way nearer to us, proved to be a merlin and a 

 grouse. In vain the latter strained himself to the 

 utmost, and endeavoured to elude his ruthless pursuer. 

 They both crossed the road a few yards in advance of 

 us ; and almost immediately afterwards the merlin 

 struck his prey to the ground. The courage of this 

 small species of hawk is very great. I am told that 

 they not unfrequently hover about the sportsman while 

 he is shooting on the moor ; and a single merlin has 

 been known to strike down a wounded grouse consider- 

 ably larger than himself, within range of gun, and 

 without compunction or delay quietly commence tearing 

 up the prey. 



