Il8 WILD NATURE IN STRATHEARN. 



up towards Dornock Dam on a summer's after- 

 noon, the banks richly clothed with bushes and 

 trees in full foliage, and the water glistening and 

 dancing in the sun, the scene is most enchanting. 

 The continuous " kra-kra " of the Rooks at the 

 Library floats down to us, and on the big stone 

 in the Parritch Haugh the Water-Craw or Dipper 

 is bobbing. Close to where we are now standing 

 I saw a Kingfisher last autumn. To-day a little 

 Wren hops about the willow bushes. There is 

 music in the sound of the smith's hammer as it 

 falls "rat-tat" on the " studdie." A pair of horses 

 are standing at the smiddy door waiting to be 

 shod. The sheep have gathered round the ash 

 tree to shelter from the sun's hot rays, but the 

 labourer in the hay field has no protection but his 

 broad-brimmed straw hat. To work in this 

 weather seems impossible. We are tired with 

 our slight exertion, and are glad when home 

 appears in view. On the banks by the road-side 

 the Grasshoppers are chirping, the busy Bee flits 

 from flower to flower, and the gaudy Butterflies 



