164 SPORT PROMISCUOUS. 



still in some localities, the same name belongs in 

 common to many different persons, often not connected 

 at all, or only by such remote links as would puzzle 

 any but a Scot to discover. 



Since the last accounts, there had been a decided 

 change in the weather, which suddenly became much 

 colder, and gave every promise of an early and 

 severe winter. Even on the low and sheltered ground 

 there was a thin sprinkling of snow lying for the space 

 of a day ; and the exposed heights, within sight from 

 the windows, are still covered with a thin fleecy cap. 



Thus warned that the open season was drawing to its 

 close, we resolved to have one more expedition to the 

 forest, before Walter and I should terminate our 

 campaign and depart for the South. But the day 

 appointed proved too wet, and we were forced to defer 

 the expedition till a favourable change should take 

 place. 



Three days of rain and storm were succeeded by the 

 wished-for improvement ; and the weather clearing up 

 in the forenoon, I sallied forth with my gun, attended 

 by the above-named Johnny, to ramble along the rocky 

 shores of the bay. As I reached the beach, a flock of 

 wild-ducks were drifting about like so many tiny boats 

 at anchor, but unfortunately just out of reach. A little 

 further on, a saucy grebe kept diving and sporting on 

 the water, apparently quite indifferent to my presence, 

 though within an easy distance for the gun. Provoked 

 at the cool nonchalance of the tittle creature, I deter- 

 mined to punish his temerity by a few shot-corns ; but 

 the very instant my gun flashed, the bird with the 

 rapidity of lightning, disappeared beneath the surface, 

 to rise again and continue his gambols, this time at a 

 safer distance. In walking along, I came across two 



