174 AN ANGLER'S SEASON 



false preconception of the ways of Nature. 

 It is not only in the lowlands that she 

 is competent and prolific. There is 

 luxuriance of life, in many kinds, up to 

 nearly 3000 feet above the sea. This 

 richness does not taper off as you 

 approach the limit. It seems to be 

 uniform until it suddenly ceases alto- 

 gether and you enter upon altitudes 

 frequented by the ptarmigan and the 

 eagle only. Insects abound wherever 

 within the limit there is water. Much 

 to the delighted excitement of the birds, 

 even the Mayfly, which is known as the 

 Junefly in the lowlands of Scotland, and 

 as the Sloop in regions where summer 

 is still later, was fluttering about the 

 margins of Loch Ordie ; and now and 

 then, at intervals of an hour or so, there 

 were rises of other insects, and con- 

 sequently rises of the trout. Even as 

 the insects were late in the year, the fish 

 were backward in condition ; but what of 

 that ? It enables the angler to believe, 

 in common with the Poet Laureate and 



