176 EXTRACTS FROM HIS WORKS [ch. vii. 
surrounding scenery, but selfishly draws all your 
regards to itself. There, on the rifted crag, let the 
dark raven croak to his mate, while we search for 
the species in distant parts of the land .—British 
Birds, vol. i., p. 509. 
10.—Scene on an Apkil Day. 
It is a lovely April day. All over the pale 
blue sky are scattered fleecy tufts of white vapour, 
buds of beauty are bursting from the earth, and 
the distant waterfall fills the valley with its 
soothing murmur. How delightful the scenery of 
these wild hills, where from the rift of the lichen- 
crusted crag juts out the rowan, whose elegantly 
pinnated foliage is fast unfolding ; where, scattered 
along the broken steep, are seen the . white¬ 
stemmed birches, with their drooping twigs and 
glistening leaflets; while the hillocks are crowned 
with blossomed furze; and the smooth waters of 
the deep lake send back the wooded banks and 
the heath-clad heights ! 
High overhead wheels in wanton mazes the 
joyous snipe, piping its singular song, and anon 
drumming on tremulous wing, as it shoots aslant. 
The shrill scream of the curlew is responded to by 
the wail of the lapwing and the melancholy whistle 
of the golden plover. Already have these birds 
deposited their eggs on the moor, in which they 
have scraped a slight hollow for the purpose of 
