Rock Garden at St. Clairtown. 5 1 



paintings by Mr. Millie's son, which do that young gentleman 

 credit as an amateur artist. The vertical profile was made by 

 Mr. John Sang of Kirkaldy (the son of the eminent nurseryman 

 of that name), who is known as one of the principal land- 

 surveyors in Scotland. Some papers by Mr. Sang in Jameson's 

 Journal, on measuring land, have been quoted in a preceding 

 volume, as well as in the Architectural Magazine. 



The following is the account sent to us by Mr. Millie of his 

 rockwork : — ■] 



The rockwork, of which the two views, Jig. 14. and Jig. 15., 

 are given, covers a space of ground 30 paces by 25 paces, in 

 St. Clairtown, county of Fife. Near the centre is an artificial 

 pond, 40 paces in circumference, and from 2 ft. to 3 ft. deep, 

 across which is a rustic bridge. A rocky island rises consider- 

 ably above the surface of this pond, with cliffs and jutting points 

 for the purpose of producing reflections on the water : round 

 the margin are fragments of dark antique rock, enlivened here 

 and there by sloping pebbly banks. The rocks are piled, to give 

 variety of form ; and, as they recede, they rise to irregular and 

 projecting heights, as if from the hand of Nature in one of her 

 freakish moods ; here a dark cave, there a rocky ravine, and 

 yonder the track of a cataract which has long ceased to flow, 

 leaving exposed the shelving rocks and the confused masses 

 underneath, apparently scooped out and furrowed by the dash- 

 ing waters. At this spot, as at most others, the rocks are covered 

 with shining lichens, and richly bespangled with the golden 

 sedum, and other alpine plants. Mosses, heaths, ferns, bram- 

 bles, broom, whin, and a variety trees and bushes indigenous to 

 the north, protrude in abundance, and overhang the water and 

 the walks, giving the scene quite the appearance of a romantic 

 glen in the Highlands of Scotland. A tame hawk and heron 

 have remained on the spot more than twelve months ; the former 

 is generally to be seen perched on a cliff; and the latter, as shown 

 in Jig. 14., will stand sentinel-like for days, at the margin of the 

 pond, apparently admiring his shadow, but, in reality, eyeing the 

 goldfish and perch, as they disport in the water ; for, though he 

 is well fed by the hand, he shows every disposition to do for 

 himself, and has been detected, once and again, fishing on his own 

 account. A couple of horned owls used to roost in the cave, 

 adding to the picturesque effect; but, during last summer, the 

 heron, who seemed always to bear them a grudge, struck them 

 through with his spear-like bill. 



Here, in speaking of the birds that have been tenants of 

 this scene, mention may be made of a large grey gull, the first 

 and, for a time, only tenant of the rock and water, whose noble 

 bearing, on either element, was the admiration of every visitor : 



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