CRAP-NA-GOWEE. 59 



in their rich and variegated autumnal tints, and casting his 

 warmest glow over the red and withered bracken upon the 

 slopes of the distant hills. 



I found the bearded chief was at least ten years old, and 

 his henchman about two years younger. They had been 

 the progeny of a cross between the original wild black goat 

 of the rock, and a tame white Billy of very large size, who 

 fell a victim to the change of life ; having hanged himself 

 by the horns on a yew-tree, in attempting to feed upon the 

 higher branches. They had been bred among the craggy 

 ravines on the unfrequented part of the island, and had 

 never left them. A four-oared yawl was soon manned by 

 hardy Highlandmen, and we pushed off for Crap-na-Gower. 



There is nothing more exhilarating than the air of these 

 calm autumn mornings. The breath of spring may be 

 more fresh and fragrant, but it is not so buoyant nor clear. 

 The little robin seems to feel its effect ; for his monotonous 

 but plaintive wail, sadly sweet, like a lament for summer, 

 is always loudest then. Our loch was calm as glass, and 

 reflected the wooded islands and copses of various hues, 

 relieved here and there by the dark Scotch firs, with their 

 knotted and twisted branches. A black-backed or giant 

 gull, perched upon a large stone at the end of Inch Moan, 

 was shouting his rough music (which sounded doubly 

 atrocious over the calm expanse) to another couple, floating 

 at a distance so airily upon the clear water, they scarcely 

 seemed to touch it. The giant gull is a beautiful fellow, 

 with his snowy breast and dusky wing ; and, barring 

 his voice, is the greatest ornament to our inland lochs 



