To Mountain Tarn 



When the balance of wild life within the land 

 has been disturbed, when the centres of activity 

 have been replaced, when colonies of wild-fowl 

 are here, there, and everywhere, when wilful 

 and natural movement as far as the group is 

 concerned is checked, and the furthest reaching 

 of our migrants is chained to a duck-pond, then, 

 from the throat of the conventional may well 

 come the hallelujah. 



But we sadly ask, whither may we go on pil- 

 grimage in search of wild life ? What is left of 

 sport, with its knightliness, its keenness, its fresh- 

 ness all gone? What is that which shoots its 

 hand-reared fowl, and, in each kill, may recognize 

 an old friend ? Even the spaniel which licked the 

 pochard in its nest, and was taught not to hurt 

 the young widgeons, might be ashamed to bring 

 the bird ashore. The last of the strikes may be 

 that of the dogs until some servile curs are 

 bred to do the unsportsmanlike work. 



In Scotland, the natural haunts are many, 

 greatly peopled, and from most parts within easy 

 reach. The northern and western islands swarm. 

 Scarce less animated are the fiords of the west 

 coast, and the estuaries of the North Sea. The 

 lochs are large and old, and in the long years 

 have gathered their full contingent of resident, 

 and migrant life. Islets within the lochs are 

 crowded at nesting time, so that scarce may the 

 foot be put down without crushing the eggs. 



R 241 



