The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-11 00:00:00

THE MOORS.

As the weather is favourable, or the contrary, the
hopes of the farmer are elevated or depressed, from the
period that he first sees the fruits of the earth appearing
above the soil, until the ripe harvest treasures are
gathered from the fields. So it is with the sportsman.
From the time that he first observes grouse-poults
among the heath, until he carries home his first bag, the
state of the weather, as it bears on the young broods, is
to him a constant source of anxiety. But his observa-
tions begin sooner than those of the farmer. Vegetable
life is rarely destroyed in embryo ; animal life often.
Now comes a spring so mild that the birds pair and have
their eggs sooner than usual ; then comes " a frost, a
killing frost," when the birds abandon their nests on
the mountain flat, and retire to sheltered valleys' where
they bring forth about half the usual number. Again,
when the playful cheepers move through the heath after
their parent birds, a week or fortnight of burning hot
weather dries up every pool and burn ; and, if the
moors are unsupplied with springs, numbers die for
want of water, or fall in the rents opened by the sun's
heat. Continued rains thin their ranks, by drowning
numbers among the wet heath ; and, last of all, when
full grown, and able to find their own provision, comes
that mysterious grouse pestilence, tapeworm, whieh,
like cholera, appears here and there on places widely
separated. Judging from the reports we have seen and
heard, we arc glad to be able to inform sportsmen that
the ensuing will be, in most places, an excellent season
for hill sport. On the lower moors, coveys are large,
and, in some instances, so strong as to be equal in size
with old birds. On very high moors they are much later
and fewer in number, averaging generally three to four
brace. Thus the sportsman will have, on the 12th of
August, abundance of young birds to give real active
sport at the very beginning, reserving high ground
till fairly in training to ascend the mountain tops.
Deer stalking will, in all probability, be first-rate. Sel-
dom have the corries been seen clothed with such luxu-
riance of rich grass and herbage, so necessary to stimu-
late the growth of antlers, which are now progressing
fast to their mature state. We subjoin a few of the
shootings which have been taken since our last notice.
The demand is still as great as formerly, and will likely
result in nearly all being engaged. Langwell. J. P.
Wilson, Baqt.—Moy Beg, G. Orred. Esq.—Monalia, Hon.
F. de Grey—Glenfintaig, B. Lock, Esq.—.Kiltarlity, E.
Evet.—Banchor and Free, C. Woodmass, Esq.—
Dundonnell, Walter Boyd. Esq.—Morar, J. G. Symons,
Esq.—Lower Kfilin, J. King, Esq.—Dunmaglass and
Aberchalder, S. D. Penrose, Esq., Mr. Culmore, and
Mr. Wilson—Gledfield, A. Smith, Esq.—Craigguanach,
W. H. Clarke, Esq.—Lochshiel, S. Simpson, Esq.—
Duntelchaig and Bunachten, Mr. Grierson—Kyllochy,
E. W. Mackintosh, Esq.
Lord Gifford and Mr. Hay Mackenzie of Cromartie
are at present at Rhidorrach Lodge, near Ullapool. His
Lordship, one day last week, while fishing with the rod,
killed, in one poi, six clean run salmon, averaging about
101 b. weight. Mr. Hay Mackenzie, on Saturday week,
killed a fine young stag, which was in good condition for
the season. and weighed, clean, 16 stones. The thunder
storms so prevalent in the south, did not extend to that
part of Ross-shire ; but there were occasional heavy
showers, and a finer season for vegetation has never
been witnessed. A curious circumstance occurred near
Lochcarron on the 19th ult. As some fishermen were re-
taming from sea, they captured a large roe-buck, which
appeared to be crossing the firth at A ttadale.Th
whicheanimal
was probably driven into the water by the gadflies,
annoy forest game at this season. Sportsmen and
tourists are appearing in this truly Highland district,
and an enthusiastic correspondent thus describes one of
his journeys:—" Probably the most romantic drive in
the Highlands is from Jeantown to Applecross—the
road, in a serpentine form, winds over the loftiest
mountain, discovering at intervals a frightful precipice,
or so
me beautiful lawn, where young harts are seen
frisking about. The descent exhibits the lovely glen,
the tall white mansion-house, and the azure sea. This
is decidedly one of the finest views in the Highlands,
and resembles very closely some scenes in the Upper
Alps. There are numerous lakes in the neighbourhood,
teeming with trout, which the proprietor does not pre-
serve, and on the shore sea-fowl in myriads. The peo-
ple on these shores appear to live in comfort. Their
proprietor is one of the best of landlords."—lnverness
Courier.

THE DEATH'S HEAD OR BEE HAWK MOTH.—Twenty
specimens of full-grown larvae were taken from the plant
Lyceum Europa:lam, or tea-tree, in Terrace-lane, at the back
of Downing-terrace, Cambridge, growing on the top of the
house on the slates. They were first discovered on the 4th
inst., by four or five falling from the roof to the pavement.
The occupiers of the house killed them as monsters unknown.
Mr. Denny, of Downing-terrace, was fortunate enough to
obtain about a dozen of them. A ladder was obtained and
12 fine full-grown specimens are now gone to earth for their
transformation. 111. r. Denny states that he never found the
caterpillar before, except on the potato jasmine, woody night-
shade, thorn apple, and elder, but never recollects any having
teen taken upon the tealroc.Coagridoe 4dvertiarA