SPORT AMOXGST THE MOUNTAINS 239 



more hats, adorned with bunches of heather and 

 casts of flies ; a big shrimp-net (by the way, I and 

 a fellow-sportsman took about five quarts of beauti- 

 ful prawns with that latter one afternoon) ; more 

 pipes, more fishing-rods. 



In one corner of the room is a stuffed badger, 

 which was pulled out of a deep and narrow hole, 

 after a struggle of nearly two hours, by a white bull- 

 terrier with a brown patch over one eye, who is 

 now lying at my feet. On the chimney-piece are a 

 grouse and a peregrine falcon, the latter incurring 

 grave penalties by " the wearing of the green," for 

 some friendly hand has adorned it with a little 

 Dolly Yarden hat of that colour. Xow to complete 

 his notion of my immediate surroundings, the 

 reader must picture another window at the other 

 end of this room, looking out not upon the sea, 

 but upon a high heathery mountain, the home of 

 the grouse and the hare ; and he must imagine 

 frequent interruptions from the incursions of friendly 

 dogs, pointers, setters, retrievers, greyhounds, and 

 terriers. Yes, the whole atmosphere of this house 

 is evidently of the sport, sporting ; the " commer- 

 cial " would be at a discount here ; all are lovers of 

 the rod or gun, many of both ; and those of the 

 fair sex who honour us witli their presence — thank 

 cjoodness we are not without their refininsj and 



