24 WILD NATURE IN STRATHEARN. 



song. A Trout is rising in the stream, pro- 

 bably feeding on flies, although none are to be 

 seen. The Cuckoo is calling from a tree not 

 far away. He is an early arrival this year. 



The river bank is strewn with the debris of 

 the winter floods. Remnants of dead sheep 

 washed down from the hills, branches of trees, 

 paling "stabs," an old kail-pot, which may be 

 able to tell of " stirring " times, and a lot of 

 etceteras, from which the frugal smith may 

 find something that may "do a turn." 



The old boat at the crossing looks leaky. 

 It bears evidence of having seen weather ; but 

 the tar and pitch have not been spared upon 

 it, and on a hot summer day it is safer to 

 stand than sit. The noise of the Rooks build- 

 ing in the old fir trees round the abbey is 

 deafening. The war of sticks goes on from 

 early morning to close of day, and nothing is 

 taken "on trust," as the sentries on duty 

 testify. 



Tammas's stirks are in the field, but grass 



