CHAPTER X. 
Eels held in abhorrence by Scotch—Scruples cvercome—Fou- 
hunter —“ Snakes and Puddock-stools”—Deformed Trout 
—Brown Trout in Glomack—in the Findhorn— Great 
spotted Ling” — Singular effect of fish-die-—* Sour Skate” 
—Queer fancy of Cow. 
ELS are regarded by the Scotch generally 
with the greatest possible aversion, amount- 
ing to a loathing quite as great as they would feel 
towards snakes, to which they seem to consider 
them closely akin. This is really a misfortune, for 
there is scarcely a loch or river in Scotland, which 
does not swarm with them—the lochs particularly ; 
and an excellent and easily attainable article of 
food is thus lost to them. They do not, however, 
appear to entertain the same repugnance to Con- 
ger-eels, which are not unfrequently eaten by the 
fishermen and others living along the coast. 
Strong as this prejudice is, I have yet known 
one or two instances when inhabitants of the 
Highlands have been induced to overcome it, and 
have generally found that when they had once 
