xvi INTRODUCTION. 



finest of fore-grounds. The sun, now high, had considerably 

 enriched the tints of the distance, which were mellowed 

 into a hue bordering on the softest of modest purple ; the 

 small birds were rejoicing in the trees, the blue peat smoke of 

 the village curled in spiry streams, and all nature seemed as 

 happy as ourselves. But now, here we all are, on board our 

 post-chaise, bound for the Pass of Leny and Loch-Lubnig. On 

 proceeding, we found on the left side a brook, hurrying along 

 to reach the level of the meadows of Callender vale, and passed 

 some curiously grouped masses of blocks, amongst which, as 

 our conductor informed us, badgers and foxes had often been 

 bayed and worried. At the top of this beautiful pass, which 

 is covered with brushwood, the country opens a little, and we 

 saw on the creek the pretty Dipper, now skimming along, now 

 perched on a stone in the water, in which it plunged at inter- 

 vals in search of the food best suited to its appetite. On the 

 opposite side the hills rose to a considerable height, here and 

 there pleasantly sprinkled with black-faced sheep, and at 

 length the lake opened to our view, flanked by an abrupt crag 

 on one side, and long ferny slopes on the other. Beautiful 

 miniature of grander objects of the same nature, how pleasant 

 to me seemed, from the spot where I stood and gazed upon 

 you, the green valley around, and how singularly well adapted 

 to the scene was the white lodge in the distance, as contrasted 

 with the pure tints of the sky above and the waters beneath ! 

 Were I wealthy enough, I should spend at least a month here 

 every summer. The lake, we were told, abounds in fine tront, 

 the hills around afford grouse of different species, and the 

 neighbouring forest is well stocked with roe and red-deer. 

 Here we took our lunch; and, while we were refi-eshing 

 ourselves with the water of the lake, and a few drops of 



