Ossian Collection > Journal of a tour in Scotland in

LOCH EARN 37
fit for the use of man and beast. Ere long
we reached a very good inn at the broad
square head of Loch Earn — a house of less
pretensions than that at Callander, but in
all respects better. Behind it were three
hawks, each fastened to its perch, belonging
to Sir David Baird, who has probably acquired
a taste for hawking in India — certainly the
noblest of all field sports, but as certainly
the least excusable, because of the cruelties
which are daily and habitually practised in
training. We found lying upon the table
here a pamphlett entitled " Striking and
Picturesque Delineations of the Grand,
Beautiful, Wonderful and Interesting Scenery
around Loch Earn, by Angus McDiarmid,
Ground Officer on the Earl of Breadalbane's
Estate of Edinample." The first sentence —
if sentence that may be called which hath
no limitations of sense or syntax — sufficed
to show that this production deserved a
place among the Lusus Literaturce, and I
was about to buy one from the waiter but
Mr Telford insisted upon adding this choice
piece to my collection of curiosities. The
author verily believes it to be the best
book in the world ; and if any surprize is
expressed at its high price (2s. 9d. for 42