212 



A Scottish Trout Stream. 



But Scottish streams show a different character in 

 many cases. Here is a bit that might pass for a 

 brawling shallow in the Tweed, or in the North Esk, 

 or in the Spey, or in the Ness, or the Ithen. How 

 sweetly refreshing it is to look on such a bit as this ! 

 The brown water sails along with a kind of smooth 

 even demeanour, till it meets with opposition from the 

 big boulders, green and slippery, and then it " puts up its 



back,"to use a colloquialism, and, since it cannot overleap 

 the obstacle, it will dash and throw itself in foam against 

 it, so protesting. But very different it is when the river 

 is in spate. Then the water overtops the boulders, and 

 goes dashing along with defiance in its face. No ob- 

 stacle can resist it then. Majesty crowns the "drumlie 

 flood," and all goes down before it. Siller Tweed, broad- 

 breasted Spey, soft Southesk, and leaping Northesk, 

 with its Kelpie's pools, and lovely Dee, and sweet Tay 



