on the fummits of the higheft hills, and never mixes with the WHITE HARE. common kind, which is frequent enough in the vales*: is lefs than the common Hare; its limbs more flender; its flesh more delicate is very agile, and full of frolick when kept tame; is fond of honey and carraway comfits, and prognosticates a storm by eating its own dung: in a wild ftate does not run an end, but feeks fhelter under ftones as foon as poffible. During summer its predominant color is grey: about September it begins to affume a fnowy whitenefs, the alteration of color appearing about the neck and rump, and becomes entirely white, except the edges and tips of the ears: in April it again resumes its grey coat. The Ptarmigans inhabit the very fummits of the highest mountains, amidst the rocks, perching among the grey stones, and during summer are scarcely to be distinguished from them, by reason of their color. They feldom take long flights, but fly about like pigeons; are filly birds, and fo tame as to fuffer a ftone to be flung at them without rifing. It is not neceffary to have a dog to find them. They tafte fo like a Grous, as to be scarce distinguishable. During winter, their plumage, except a few feathers on the tail, are of a pure white, the color of the fnow, in which they bury themselves in heaps, as a protection from the rigorous air. Royston Crows, called here Hooded Crows, and in the Erfe, Feannag, are very common, and refide here the whole year. They Br. Zool. No. 21. PTARMIGANS, BIRDS. TAY-BRIDGE. breed in all forts of trees, not only in the Highlands, but even in the plains of Murray: lay fix eggs; have a fhriller note than the common fort; are much more mifchievous; pick out the eyes of lambs, and even of hories, when engaged in bogs; but for want of other food, will eat cranberries, and other mountain berries. Ring Ouzels breed among the hills, and in autumn defcend in flocks to feed on the berries of the wicken trees. Sea Eagles breed in ruined towers, but quit the country in winter? The Black Eagles continue there the whole year. It is very difficult to leave the environs of this delightful place. Before I go within doors, I must recall to mind the fine winding walks on the South fide of the hills, the great beech fixteen feet in girth, the picturesque birch with its long ftreaming branches, the hermitage, the great cataracts adjacent, and the darkfome chafm beneath. I must enjoy over again the view of the fine reach of the Tay, and its union with the broad water of the Lion: I must step down to view the druidical circles of ftones; and lastly, I muft vifit Tay-bridge, and, as far as my pen can contribute, extend the fame of our military countrymen, who, among other works worthy of the Romans, founded this bridge, and left its hiftory infcribed in these terms : Mirare Mirare viam hanc militarem Ultra Romanos terminos M. Paffuum. CCL hac illac Tefquis et paludibus infultantem ut cernis inftratam : Opus hoc arduum fuâ folertiâ, Regis GEORGII II. Aufpicia. Taymouth is a large houfe, a caftle modernized. The most remarkable part of its furniture is the works of the famous Famefon*, the Scotch Vandyck, an eleve of this family. That fingular performance of his, the genealogical picture is in good preservation. The chief of the Argyle family is placed recumbent at the foot of a tree, with a branch; on the right is a fingle head of his eldest fon, Sir Duncan Campbell, Laird of • Son of an architect at Aberdeen; ftudied under Rubens, at Antwerp. Charles I. fat to him, and prefented him with a diamond ring. He always drew himself with his hat on. His prices were zo 1. Scots, or 1 1. 3 s. 4 d. English, per head: was born in 1586; died at Edinburgh, 1644. For a further account, confult Mr. Walpole's Anecdotes of Painting. JAMESON. |