70 FIELD-NOTES FOR THE YEAR. CH. XXIV. 



rich open corn-land of the most fertile district in 

 Scotland, near the bay of Findhorn, where the river, 

 as if tired by its long and rapid course, gradually 

 and slowly mixes itself with the salt water of the 

 Moray Firth. By crossing the river near this spot, 

 another very different kind of country is reached — 

 the strange sand-hills of Findhorn or Culbin. Thus, 

 in a very few hours' drive as great a variety of 

 country is passed through as could be found in any 

 part of the island, each portion of which is charac- 

 teristic and interesting. 



Forres itself is one of the prettiest and cleanest 

 little towns in the kingdom. The entrance from 

 the river Findhorn is extremely picturesque ; and 

 the bright sparkling burn, with the public bleaching- 

 green close to the town, always gives it a gay and 

 lively appearance. The town magistrates, too, with 

 public-spirited zeal, have laid out pleasure-grounds 

 and walks on the wooded hill above the town, which, 

 as regards the views which they command of rich 

 cultivated land, are probably not surpassed by any 

 in the kingdom. 



During the time that the snow remained on the 

 ground, the rabbits in a wood near my house took 

 to barking the fine old hollies, thus destroying trees 

 of a very great age, and of from eight to ten inches 

 in diameter. Oaks also of twenty years' growth 



