52 tktraonidjE. 



shooting became so general — literally pitched his tent for a season. 

 The pursuit brings him into scenes that he would never otherwise 

 behold, and which, with salutary effect, become indelibly impressed 

 upon his memory. The ever-varying landscape of a fine sporting 

 moor, which generally possesses the grandest and most picturesque 

 elements combined, is one of the greatest charms of grouse- 

 shooting. To give some little idea (though a very faint one) of 

 this, a few brief extracts from a journal kept by the author at 

 Aberarder, Inverness-shire, during September 1843, may be in- 

 troduced. The main features only are selected, but these will 

 suggest the charming accompaniments, both of animate and 

 inanimate nature, that are usually found in connexion with 

 them. 



Sept. 6. — We rode six miles out to Crooked Glen to shoot. 

 The ride, through wooded, wild, and rocky mountain glens, with 

 their rushing torrents, was extremely fine. The mountain sides 

 beautifully displayed the light-foliaged and graceful birch, dis- 

 posed in extensive masses, in little groups, or in single trees; 

 with the occasional variety — in the drier and more stony places — 

 of the rowan and the rock-willow {Saline caprea), and in the 

 lower and moister parts, with the alder. Extensive plantations 

 of pine (artificial however), reaching to the mountain tops, added 

 much to the wooded prospect in some directions ; the dark green 

 hue of this tree harmonizing admirably with the deep purple of 

 the heather, and the dull grey of the granitic rocks. I was much 

 struck, (as I have often before been in such localities,) with the 

 circumstance, that all indigenous trees were old, and that there 

 was not a young one springing up to supply their place. Before 

 two generations of men shall have passed away, there will be 

 hardly a tree of spontaneous growth left in parts of Scotland now 

 admirably and picturesquely wooded. Such is the effect of every 

 available spot being appropriated to sheep or oxen. To my 

 remark, " What a fine locality for roe-deer," the reply was, 

 " Yes, they were abundant there ; but cattle have taken their 

 place/' — this, too, on a steep mountain-side. Black-game had 

 also been numerous in the same district, but they have been 



