WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS 



The varieties of the soil and its productions, both animate 

 and inanimate, will, however, be best shown in the extracts from 

 my note-books, with which these pages are filled. My memo- 

 randums, having for the most part been written down at the 

 moment, and describing anecdotes and incidents that fell under 

 my actual observation, will at all events contain correct descrip- 

 tions of the nature and habits of the animals and birds of the 

 country ; though, not being originally intended for publication, 

 they are not arranged in any regular order. Here and there I 

 have quoted some anecdote of animals, which I have heard 

 from others : these I can only offer as I received them, but I 

 can safely assert that I have quoted the words of those persons 

 only upon whose veracity and powers of observation I could 

 depend. My subject, as connected both to natural history and 

 sporting, has led me back to my former wanderings in the 

 more northern and wilder parts of the country, where I had 

 great opportunities of becoming acquainted with the habits of 

 the wilder and rarer birds and beasts, who are natives of those 

 districts ; and the pursuit of whom always had greater charms 

 for me than the more commonplace occupations of grouse or 

 partridge shooting. 



I hope that my readers will be indulgent enough to make 

 allowances for the unfinished style of these sketches, and the 

 copious use of the first person singular, which I have found it 

 impossible to avoid whilst describing the adventures which I 

 have met with in this wild country, either when toiling up the 

 rocky heights of our most lofty mountains, or cruising in a 

 boat along the shores, where rocks and caves give a chance of 

 finding sea-fowl and otters ; at one time wandering over the 

 desert sand-hills of Moray, where, on windy days, the light 

 particles of drifting sand, driven like snow along the surface of 

 the ground; are perpetually changing the outline and appear- 

 ance of the district ; at another, among the swamps, in pursuit 

 of wild ducks, or attacking fish in the rivers, or the grouse on 

 the heather. 



For a naturalist, whether he be a scientific dissector and 

 preserver of birds, or simply a lover and observer of the habits 

 and cu.stoms of the different fercB naturce, large and small, this 

 district is a very desirable location, as there are very few birds 

 or quadrupeds to be found in any part qf Great Britain, who do 



