Nest; to remedy this, the old Puffin is said to administer SORREL to extenuate, and render it fit for Flying. At any rate, it is a known Fact, that Sorrel is, in this Island, commonly found to grow near the Puffin's Nest.

Kinross-shire.

The high Flavour and red Colour, for which the Fish taken in LOCHLEVEN are so famed, are understood to arise from the Food, by which they are supported in the LocH: it being a general Rule, that while the Flesh of Trout is white, in clear and limpid Waters, the same Sort, when found where the Rivers pass slowly through a Tract of foul or meadow Ground, have less or more Redness in their Colour. A considerable part of the Bottom of LOCHLEVEN is spungy, from which aquatic Plants rise in great Abundance, and in many parts, towards the beginning of Autumn, cover the Surface of the Water with their Flowers: but the Circumstance to which the high Colour of the LOCHLEVEN Trout is chiefly ascribed, is the vast Quantity of a

small red Shell-fish, which abounds in the bottom of the Loch, and especially among the aquatic Plants, its form is globular, and the Trouts, when caught, have often their Stomachs full of these Shell-fish. The Trouts generally lie in deep Water, and will not rise to any kind of Fly, or Hook however baited. It has been remarked, also, that in LoсHLEVEN are discovered, all the different Species of River Trout, and after they have remained some time in the Loch, and approached towards one pound in Weight, they become red in the Flesh.

The Plantations of WILLIAM ADAM, Esq. on his Estate at Blair in this County, are highly beneficial, and the Advantages he has derived, will necessarily induce similar Improvements from other landed Proprietors. It is a singular Circumstance, that Mr. ADAM had an Estate in SCOTLAND, diminished in Value Twelve Hundred Pounds per Annum, by the Transversion of a River Salmon Fishery, which formerly ran through it; but, by an immense Flood in 1811, the River excavated a new Course for itself, of more than a Mile in length, through a neighbouring Property, entirely leaving that of Mr. ADAM; and what

renders the above Circumstance more extraordinary, it is said, that about a Century since, the same Accident of a Flood, altered the Passage of the Stream, from the Gentleman's Grounds who then possessed the Fishery, and directed the Course of the River, into those of Mr. ADAM's Ancestors.

Kirkcudbright.

Loch Braek, although of very small Extent, is remarkable for an excellent Sort of Trout, famous alike for Size and Colour, measuring from nine to eighteen Inches in Length, and many of them weighing eight or ten English Pounds. The Pike in Lochken, or as it is sometimes termed, Lochdee, are in great Perfection, grow to a prodigious Size, and are frequently taken from twenty to thirty, and one of Fifty-seven pounds, has been caught. They are always in Season, when the Weather permits the Taking of them, and bite at the Fly, or Line baited with Burn-Trouts or Frogs. Perch were first introduced, Anno 1750, by the late ALEXANDER COPLAND, Esq. of Col

lieston. Since that time they have multiplied astonishingly, and are now captured in great Quantities, especially about Midsummer, by those who angle with Worm-baits. Eels are never interrupted in their Possession of the Waters, as the Country People, have an insuperable Prejudice against feeding on an Animal, which so strongly resembles the Serpent. The Case, however, was different amidst former Eras. In the dark Ages, when the Art of Cookery was but little understood, there was in this Parish, a Fishery of Eels, which were exported to ITALY. This is mentioned by HECTOR BOETHIUS, and after him, by. BUCHANAN.

On the SEA Coast, particularly the eastern Part, of the Stewartry, the Animal Flower, or Water Polypus, is found. This wonderful Marine Production, is considered as the Link, that connects the Animal with the Vegetable System. It does not possess a locomotive Faculty, and its Organs are too imperfect, to entitle it to be ranked with Animals; though it appears to have somewhat more of Sensation, than can be ascribed to a merely vegetating Substance. The Form of these Polypuses is pleasingly diversified, some resemble

K K

the Sun-flower, others the hundred-leaved Rose, the greater Number, however, bear the likeness of the Poppy. The Colours vary as much as the Form. Sometimes a deep Purple, frequently that of the Rose, but mostly of a light red, or fleshy Hue. Those of the greatest Beauty, have often been carried from the Shore of Colvend, twelve or fifteen Miles up into the Country, where they have been fed on Worms, and even lived for several Weeks; and might have existed much longer, if they could have been supplied with Seawater. Their lively Colours, and Variety of elegant Shapes in which they are found, equal any thing recorded by Natural Historians of the Sea-flowers of other Climates. It is a Subject of no small Curiosity, to see a Purple, Red, or Yellow FLOWER, striving to catch a WORM.

Lanarkshire, or Clydes-dale.

The HORSES of the upper Ward in this County, are a Breed much in Request over the whole Country. Our Ancestors were accustomed to rear great Numbers, and their