96 THE HOME OF A NATURALIST. 



Tribby's liberal commendations, would ensure the good 

 fisherman's services as butcher being offered on the 

 spot 



Fowls were always to be had in the same way. 

 Fish was usually brought to the house by some fisher- 

 man's child, who had been sent with a basketful as a 

 "present." It would have been received as a great 

 insult if Tribby had declined such gift, and she would 

 never have been so mean (as it was called) as to have 

 accepted it without sending back a present of tea or 

 meal — anything, in short, which was of rather more 

 value than the fish. When the fishing season was at 

 its height, and the boats were making "gude hales," 

 it frequently happened that the presents became very 

 embarrassing in quantity. When such was the case, 

 Tribby sent a portion of her abundance where she 

 conjectured there might be the reverse of an over- 

 supply. 



But that wealth of fish, flesh, feather, and bone 

 occurred only in late spring, brief summer, and early 

 autumn. There were the long months of the snow- 

 season to be catered for ; those short stormy days when 

 no boat could venture on the deep, and no quadruped 

 had any superfluous tissue to spare for man. How 

 some of the wants of that period were anticipated, 

 Wildie shudders yet to think upon ; for not only had 

 Tribby to superintend such " anticipations," but all the 

 members of the family, excepting the gentlemen, were 

 called upon to assist. 



Late in October young cows, bullocks, and sheep 



