MONTE NERO. 



that of shooting — will tempt them into such high 



reo-ions, althougli they find there only small birds to 

 satisfy their love of "sport". 



So that after vainly seeking for a companion I had 

 to inid ni)' way alone up Monte Nero. Then it turned 

 out after all that the summit is thickly wooded, and 

 consequently the much vaunted view is not to be had ; 

 in fact there is no free outlook in auA' direction. The 

 north slope of the mountain soon rewarded me richly 

 for the labour ol the ascent. Tl led me to the Col 

 which connects Monte Nero with the much higher }\hinte 

 Caggio. From this clear point of vantage the gaze 

 could penetrate unimpeded into the deep valleys, range 

 over undulating hills, follow the long stretch of shore, 

 and lose itself in the distance over the sea. To the 

 east, beyond the long slope on which rests Coldirodi, 

 a part of San Remo can be seen; in the north-west the 

 might\- giants of the Maritime Alps attract the e}'e with 

 their sno\v-clad tops. The dazzling white peaks stood 

 out with marvellous distinctness against the azure sky ; 

 while lower down on the slopes, the dark green of the 

 Pines, whence Monte Nero takes its name, passes into 

 the lighter green of the Olives, and merges into the 

 luminous blue with which the endless waters of the sea 

 close up the horizon as with a wall. There are iew 

 scenes, even in Itah', wliich can compare with this for 

 beauty. This view, in truth, combines all those elements 

 which ma}- delight the eye, charm the aesthetic sense 

 and rouse the imagination. But the sight of yonder 

 Alpine snow-iields had turned the current of my thoughts 



