about 3/4 mile. Abbey in very ruinous
state and deriving its chief beauty from
the profusion of ivy which overruns its
crumbling walls. A wild rabbit feeding
in cloisters startled by our approach.
Robins numerous and in full song.
A Wren also singing. Saw a yew tree said
to be 700 years old. Surroundings of
Abbey very beautiful, the trees &
thickets luxuriant and not offensively
trim, as is too apt to be the case
in England.
  Back to Melrose at 2 P.M. after
lunch spent about 2 hours in Melrose
Abbey. Some exquisite stone carvings
of foliage, fruit & flowers. We have
seen nothing to equal them elsewhere.
To Edinburgh by 6 P.M. train arriving
about 8. The country a fertile river valley
walled in by high ridges & mountains
purple with heather.
  Edinburgh to Trossachs
Aug. 29. A superb day, cool with brilliant
sunshine, sparkling air & occasional
light showers.
At 12 N. took express train for
Callender, country open & rolling,
the valley of the Tweed bounded on each
side by mountains or high ridges.
Speed of train frightful at times the
car swaying with a quick snapping
motion so excessive as to be very
trying. Saw many small gulls which I
took to be L. [canus] in ploughed fields &
grain stubbles in company with Rooks,
Also three Dapwings.
  Reached Callendar at 2 pm. Thence
by coach (an open drag with all the seats
on top) to the Trossachs. The scenery
very beautiful, the mountains much
finer than I had pictured them. The
heather is in full bloom, about at
its height they tell us. Saw 5 Gooseanders
flying down the course of a rapid river.
Also 2 Whinchats in furze thicket.