308 THE SPIRIT OP GLENCROE. 



heard the mysterious whistle, which continued as before 

 until I left the loch. I tried to ascertain the exact spot 

 from whence the sound proceeded, but was only the more 

 baffled, as I had no doubt it was from a perpendicular and 

 totally inaccessible rock. At last I became so accustomed 

 to it, that I should as soon have expected to miss the trout 

 from the loch as this wild note from the hill, 



Summer was now advancing, and several engagements 

 prevented my returning to the lochan during my resi- 

 dence in the neighbourhood ; but about the same season, 

 two years after, when showing a friend some of our 

 Highland scenery, amongst other places I took him to 

 Glencroe, and, in walking past the little loch, I almost 

 started when I heard the well-remembered whistle ! I 

 had before given up hope of finding out the cause, and it 

 had even occurred to me that it might possibly be some 

 echo occasioned by the wind among the rocks. With this 

 absurd solution I was fain to rest satisfied; and it was 

 some years after, when passing a steep and craggy hill in 

 Perthshire, that the true one was discovered. A small 

 bird flew out before me, and, perching on a detached piece 

 of rock, struck up its wild peculiar note. It was the 

 Spirit of Glencroe! With cautious steps I wound round 

 the crag to get a nearer view of the bird, when I caught 

 sight of its white breast, and, immediately detecting the 

 rock-ousel^ felt sorry that my charm was dissolved. 



I had once or twice in spring met with this bird 

 on the moors, but had never heard it make any call 

 beyond a harsh grating chirp. 



