CH. VII. FISHING OF OSPREY. 113 



rare in Britain, it frequents this locality, which seems 

 particularly to suit it. Large tracts of the country 

 here are almost unseen by human beings from one end 

 of the year to the other. Covered with grey rocks, 

 and broken up into a succession of small hollows, in 

 most of which there are lochs, all abounding in trout, 

 this district is exactly suited for the osprey, while 

 it is unfit for any other animal ; the sheep remain 

 more on the extensive and grassy slopes, where they 

 not only find plenty of food, but are more under 

 the eye and protection of mankind. A shepherd in 

 the broken, rocky tracts of country can have no 

 chance of finding or seeing his flock ; while, at the 

 same time, the pasturage is worth but little, con- 

 sisting wholly of rank heather. Nor is the ground 

 at all better adapted for the grouse shooter, as he 

 would never keep sight of his dogs for two minutes 

 together. For these reasons the osprey is but little 

 distvu-bed, and lives unmolested for years. Even if 

 a shepherd does pass the loch, the bird sits securely 

 on her isolated rock, out of reach of all danger ; as 

 her nest can only be approached, in most instances, 

 by swimming. I generally saw the osprey fishing 

 about the lower pools of the rivers, near their 

 mouths ; and a beautiful sight it is. The long- 

 winged bird hovers (as a kestrel does over a mouse) 

 at a considerable distance above the water, some- 



