diftance o f a quarter o f a league from the village. W e had been
extremely anxious to fee a catarad in winter, and that o f Yervcn-
kyle did not difappoint our expedations.
It is formed by the river Kyro, which, iifuing from a lake of
the fame name, precipitates itfelf through fome deep and rugged
rocks, and falls, fo far as 1 could guels, from a height o f about
feventy yards. The water daihing from rock to rock, boils and
foams till it reaches the bottom, where it purfues a more tranquil
courie, and after making a large circuit Ioles itielf again between
mountainous banks, which are covered with fir trees. That we
might have a more commanding view o f the pidure, we took our
ilation on a high ground, from which we had a diflant profped
o f a large trad o f country o f a varied furface, and almolt wholly
covered with woods o f firs, the pleating verdure o f which acquiring
additional luilre from the folar rays, formed an agreeable contrail
with the fnow and maffes o f ice hanging from the margin
over the cafcade.
The fall preiented us with one o f thole appearances which we
defired much to fee, as being peculiar to the regions o f the North,
and which are never to be met with in Italy. The water, throw-
ing itielf amidil enormous malíes o f ice which here and there have
the afped o f gloomy vaults, fringed with curious cryilallizations,
and the cold being o f fuch rigour as almoil to freeze the agitated
waves and vapours in the air, had formed gradually two bridges o f
ice acrofs the cafcade o f fuch lolidity and ilrength, that men
palled over them in perfed iccurity. The waves raging and
foamingO
foaming below with a vail noife, were in a ftate o f fuch violent
motion as to fpout water now and then on the top o f the bridge;
a circumilance which rendered its furface fo exceedingly ilippery,
that the peafants were obliged to pafs it creeping on their hands
and knees.
W e repeatedly vifited this pidurefque cafcade, and took feveral
drawings o f it in different points o f view. W e always performed
this walk with guns in our hands, in cafe we ihould fall in with
a hare, a fox, or a wolf, whofe numerous tracks we met with in
the woods. W e fought them a whole day in the heart o f the
foreil with a hope, and not without iome little fear, o f finding
thefe ferocious animals; but were continually and perhaps happily
difappointed. W e difcovered every where marks of their ravages,
fuch as the remains. o f animal carcafes, but never got fight o f
either. T he probable caufe o f our being difappointed in not finding
game arofe from the neceffity we were under to fearch without
a dog. Not one was to be found in the village nor in the whole
neighbourhood of Yervenkyle, which, according to the report o f
our landlord, was owing to the wolves fetting upon them at the
very doors, and even in the houfes themfelves o f the inhabitants.
Being unable therefore to find either hare, fox, or wolf, we were
forced to take up with fmaller game, and divert ourfelves by killing
thole little birds which in the North always fly during winter
near the cataraft, and which I never faw in Italy. This fpecies
is named by Linnaeus turdus cmdus..
Some peafants who dwelt at a mill on the contrary fide o f the
bridge,