described, as not to require enlargement here; three Wonders for which it has long been.celebrated, are, Fish without Fins, Waves without Wind, and a floating Island. The first are supposed to be Vipers, which abound in the Islands, and have been seen swimming from one Island to the other. With regard to the second, it occurs in all extensive and deep Waters, where a Calm immediately succeeds a Storm. The third, must be considered as a mossy Fragment, bound together by the matted Roots of common Grasses, Willows, Dutch Myrtles*, &c. if it once actually floated, it is now fixed near the West Shore of Inchconagan, an Island in the Loch, which contains several Thousands of large Yews, a Collection of that kind of Wood, unequalled perhaps in EUROPE. It is not known whether they are natural or planted, it is conjectured the latter, and intended for making Bows, before the Invention of Gunpowder.

*This Shrub, which abounds on the Banks of LOCHLO MOND, is a valuable Vermifuge. The dried Leaves and Branches, occasionally spread among wearing Apparel, not only diffuse a pleasing Smell, but completely protect them against Injury from Moths or other Vermin; it is also valuable for the same purpose, in the Manufactories where Cotton is spun.

The largest, measures twelve feet three Inches in Circumference, and is very lofty.

The Lamprey is found in almost all the Scottish Waters, or small Streams, but Nobody will eat it, on Account of its Resemblance to a Serpent, when accidentally caught, they are destroyed with great Inveteracy.

. In October, 1811, was killed in the CLYDE, opposite to the Baths, Helensburgh, a Fish of a Species never before seen in that River, but supposed by some Gentlemen to be of the gold Fish kind, though in size, much larger. It measured thirty-five inches in length, twenty and a half in breadth, and six in thickness at the Shoulder, and weighed fifty-six pounds. This Fish has a small Mouth, no teeth; its Fins, five in number, are of a bright red; one on the back, one on each shoulder, one at the tail, and two, or a double fin on the belly. The Body is of a light bluish colour, with numerous white Spots over it. The Belly is white, and its external part is of a hard and bony Substance. The fish had got into shallow Water, and its red fins having been observed at the Baths, some persons went down and caught it.

At the before-mentioned period, a TROUT of remarkable Dimensions, inhabited the CLYDE, at Thankerton, and might be seen from the top of the Bridge, every Day when the Water is transparent. It has been known to the Inhabitants of the adjacent Parishes, for nearly Twenty Years, during which time, it has eluded every Artifice, that the Ingenuity of the Sportsman, has devised for its Destruction, and has obtained the Name of the Mill-burnfoot Trout, from that part of the River which it formerly frequented, and from which it was lately displaced, in consequence of wanting the necessary Depth of Water, by the shifting of Gravel.

This County produces a Variety of the Dung-hill Fowl, which has sometimes been found in the Mosses, and domesticated by taking the Eggs from the wild Birds, and hatching and rearing them by a common Hen. This Variety is called the Heath-fowl, and is but rarely found either here, or in the Northern Counties of SCOTLAND. It is not so large as the common sort, but the Eggs, for the most part, are of the Size of the Ducks, and are very fine. The Hen continues to produce Eggs for a long time, and seldom inclines to

hatch. When the Eggs are hatched by another Hen, Care must be taken to burst the Shell after it is chipped, being frequently so hard, that the young Bird cannot disengage itself. The Colour of the Chick very much resembles that of a Partridge; but in Fowls come to Maturity, it is commonly red or brown, mixed with Spots of White and Grey. Both Male and Female are round Crested, and often the Tufts are so large, as to hang over the Eyes, and must frequently be clipped. They are smooth legged, and length of the Leg is in proportion to the Body. The Heels of the Cock are short, and not well adapted for fighting, yet both Sexes fight keenly with their Bill, which is thick, short, and crooked. Although fully tamed, yet they are fond of Swamps and Woods, and extremely greedy of Worms and other Reptiles, in quest of which they wander to a considerable Distance. They sometimes leave the Dung-hill Fowls, and for the sake of Insects, follow any Plough that is going in the Neighbourhood. This Breed is more easily supported than the common, and their Eggs bring nearly double the Price of ordinary Fowls.

In this County, are now two Parishes, called,

Old and New KIRKPATRICK, (till the Year 1649 consolidated,) and here it is generally supposed, is the Birth Place of the renowned ST. PATRICK, the Patron of IRELAND. By one Account of this Personage, his Father is said to have been a Presbyter, and his Grandfather a Deacon, that he was carried captive into IRELAND, and sold to a petty Prince of the Country, who employed him as a Swineherd. By the Tradition of this part of the Country, a different Statement is given of his Emigration. The Devil being provoked by his Sanctity and Success in preaching the GOSPEL, sent a Band of his Auxiliaries, the Witches, to annoy ST. PATRICK; the Witches fell upon the Saint so fiercely, he was obliged to fly, finding a little Boat upon the CLYDE, he went into it and set off for IRELAND. At that early Period, it appears, that SATAN had not endowed the Witches with the Art of swimming along the WATER in an Egg-shell, or riding through the AIR on a Broomstick, they were unable, therefore, to pursue the holy Man; but they tore a monstrous Rock from a neighbouring Mountain, and hurled it after him with deadly Purpose; they missed their Aim, the ponderous Mass fell harmless, and has since been converted into the CASTLE of