cHap. xx11.] THE MONAGHLIAHD MOUNTAINS, 185 
passed in going from one pool to the other. The water-ouzel, 
too, enlivened the scene by its curious rapid flight and shrill cry, 
as it flew from one shallow to another, or passed back over my 
head to return to its favourite resting-stone from which I had 
disturbed it. 
The kestrel seems to abound in the rocks through which the 
river runs, as I saw this bird very frequently either sitting on 
some projecting angle of stone or hovering high above me. 
The country here appears as good for grouse, as the hills near 
the sources would be for red-deer, were they free from sheep. | 
do not know a district in Scotland that would make a better 
deer-forest than that immediately round and to the westward of 
Coignafern, where the Monaghliahd mountains afford every 
variety of ground suited to these animals, with most excellent 
feeding for them along the burns and straths which intersect the 
high grounds in every direction, and the most perfect solitude. 
It is almost a pity that the Mac Intosh does not turn this distriet 
into a forest. 
