THE PEAT ISLE 



A SQUARE flat island on Loch Lomond, called Inch 

 Moan, but familiarly known as " The Peat Isle," (from the 

 people of Luss having liberty to cast peats there,) is a 

 favourite resort of every kind of wild-fowl. At a little 

 distance, it appears almost level with the water, on which 

 account, as well as from its mossy formation, it abounds 

 in swamps and morasses. This may partly account for 

 the partiality of the wild-fowl to its shores. But there are 

 stronger reasons still : the retired wild character of the 

 place, seldom visited by man, except for an occasional 

 boat-load of peats, added to which the shallowness of the 

 water at the edges, growing deep so very gradually, is 

 most favourable to their feeding. In the season, the 

 further end of the island, having a grassy margin and 

 bottom, is much frequented by flocks of wild-ducks and 

 widgeon ; on many occasions I have put up not less than a 

 thousand in one company. In the severest weather, the 

 sea-eagle continually resorts there to prey upon the wild- 

 fowl ; and so voracious is it at this time that my father's 



