BY LAKELAND DELLS AND FELLS.
By Lakeland Dells and Fells. By W. T. Palmer. (Chatto and Windus. 6s.)—Perhaps the best part of this book is to be found in the first section, entitled "Shepherd Life among the Fells." Itcontains the experiences of men who have been fell shepherds in years gone by, or are so now. The veterans describe their work generally, and give some thrilling narratives of critical times. "A Mountain Catastrophe" is a very striking story. Fifty-eight sheep were reported missing out of two flocks; and they had to be dug out, not without considerable peril to human life. In the end all but some five or six were recovered. Two shepherds had also been covered with snow. These were found before much harm had been done, though a man suffers under a light covering of snow much more than a sheep under a heavy one. The first man, when he was found, cried feebly : "Jack Howson was further in nor me." Howson, when reached, was able to take his part in the digging. Some curious stories are told of the homing instinct in sheep. A score of Cheviot "tups " brought South found their way back egrall tee counties, Then we have clescriptiens of walks °vet
the mountains, and some quite fascinating stories of sport, fox- hunting, which is, of course, a more genuine " hunting " than what is commonly 'mown by the name—the Lakeland fox is a downright enemy—angling, and shooting. "Tales of the Mist" make another item in this fascinating volume. The only part with which we cannot feel any sympathy is the "Fell- Walking Records." The climbing of difficult heights is some- thing not wholly reasonable, perhaps, but still so rich in excite- ment that it is impossible to condemn it; but to see in how many hours and minutes so many mountains can be climbed seems a very foolish amusement. And surely it is highly injurious to health, though there may be exceptionally strong constitutions which it does not manifestly harm,
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