202 THE HOME OF A NATURALIST. 



one summer evening, saw a party of Trows coming 

 lightly over the marshy ground close by. As they 

 skipped along they sang, ' Hupp horse handocks, and 

 we'll ride on Bulmints.' The old man instantly called 

 out, 'I'll ride with you.' Thereupon they carried 

 him off and kept him for a twelvemonth, and then 

 they put him back on his own roof, but he never told 

 what he had seen or heard while visiting Trowland. 

 Evidently there was an awe hand upon him." But the 

 tune which the Trows sang, when he desired to join 

 their sport, was remembered and taught to others, and 

 is now known as one of the Ferry reels. Another tune 

 is called " Be nort da deks o' Voe," because it was 

 heard near that place. 



I am afraid Trows must be very capricious creatures 

 indeed, for there was evidently no calculating on their 

 tempers. Their freaks were endless. It is told of a 

 girl, that, in the saucy merriment of youth, she was 

 wont to run to the fairy knowes, and call to the Trows 

 to come and fetch her to see their wonderful home. 

 This she did frequently, and at last the irritated Trows 

 breathed upon her, and she became paralysed in the 

 limbs, and remained so all her life. 



There was a Trow called Broonie, who was supposed 

 to be the King of Trowland. He showed himself very 

 often ; and it was remarked that if he had been seen 

 in a corn-yard all was sure to be right there, but if the 

 visitant was an ordinary Trow, mischief ensued. You 

 may be sure folks were glad when Broonie paid them 

 a visit, and they were careful not to go near any of the 



