156 TOUR IN SUTHERLAND. CH, X. 



if smoking, ten to one but ho puts the pipe, with 

 red-hot tobacco in it, at once into his waistcoat 

 pocket, wliere it dies a natural death in an innocent 

 manner that I would recommend no one else to 

 expect his pipe to imitate. 



Summer or winter the Highland deer-stalker puts 

 on his plaid when going out, and, if he does not carry 

 a gun, has in his hand some favourite stick (or 

 "staff" as he calls it) made of hazel or juniper, 

 and cut during some excursion to the low country. 

 His telescope, though good, generally refuses to be 

 seen distinctly through by any eyes but his own ; 

 somehow no one else can hit oiF the focus. Though 

 caring little for grouse shooting, he is usually a 

 fisherman, and can throw a fly well enough on occa- 

 sion, and a present of salmon flies goes straight to 

 his heart. 



To return to Aultnaharrow. I was much pleased 

 with the kennel of deer-hounds in charge of the 

 forester there ; some of them fine, powerful dogs, 

 fit to pull down any stag. This breed of dogs, 

 which a few years ago was almost extinct, or at any 

 rate only in the hands of a very few Highland 

 proprietors, is now rapidly increasing, not only in 

 numbers, but also in size, strength, and other good 

 qualities. Tlie three finest dogs of the kind that I 

 ever saw were at Foyers, on Loch Ness ; and I be- 



