48 ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 



" And there in many a stormy vale 

 The Scald had told his wondrous tale, 

 And many a Runic column high 

 Had witnessed grim idolatry." 



Lay of Last Minstrel. 



I felt that I was treading ground eminently classic 

 the objects before me having been visited and alluded 

 to by the elegant author of the ' Pirate.' At this 

 point, a low solid piece of rough masonry, half bridge 

 and half embankment, separates the two lochs. Cross- 

 ing this, and continuing for a short distance along the 

 second and somewhat larger sheet of water, a few ducks 

 rose from their feeding-ground far away along the 

 distant shore, and made straight across to where I was 

 standing. No possible object of the smallest dimen- 

 sions offered the slightest means of covert or conceal- 

 ment ; so ray only chance consisted in remaining per- 

 fectly steady and motionless. They were evidently 

 making fcr the open sea, and so, flying straight up 

 wind, passed in a direct line far above my head. I fired 

 on the instant, and evidently struck my bird a fine 

 drake ; but not being loaded with green cartridge, my 

 only chance, I did no further execution. 



Leaving this spot I proceeded along the edge of the 

 original loch. I now discovered I had no more 

 powder; but having bagged as many birds as I could 

 conveniently prepare the skins of at one time, I had 

 no reason to regret the absence of a further supply. 



