134 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



concealed myself among the heather, and remained on watch. 

 After a time the two birds flew into sight, one of them still 

 carrying a fish. They sailed about for some time, the one 

 with the fish continually calling ; but they did not go to 

 the nest. I reported what I had seen to the Laird and to 

 the keeper, and promised to keep the position of the nesting- 

 tree a secret. 



In the summer I did not see the birds at all, but I 

 ascertained by inspection that they were not using the nest 

 I had found in the spring. No one seemed to know any- 

 thing of their nesting. 



In 1901 I was at Rothiemurchus during April and 

 August. In the spring I learned that an Osprey had arrived 

 on April 1st, and I saw the one bird several times. It 

 seemed to be building at the castle, and apparently had 

 not visited the other nest. I was told that the men floating 

 the timber from the burnt forest had seen this Osprey and 

 a " black," i.e. golden, eagle fighting over Ord Ban. In 

 the summer I did not see the birds at all, and apparently 

 there was but the one in the district. 



In 1902 I was at Rothiemurchus in April and in 

 August. A single Osprey came on April 4th, and I saw 

 it several times at the castle nest. It had not used the 

 other nest, which, indeed, was somewhat fallen to pieces. 

 In the summer I did not see the bird at all, and apparently 

 there was again but the one in the district. 



This year I was at Rothiemurchus in April. The season 

 was late, and the weather continually cold and stormy. 

 The Osprey had not returned, and up to the time of writing 

 it has not appeared. 



Summing up these observations briefly, the record stands 

 thus: 1894, two adults, two young; 1895, two adults, 

 probably young; 1896, two adults, and young, probably 

 two; 1897, two adults, and young, probably two; 1898, 

 two adults and two young ; 1899, three adults, no young; 

 1900, two adults ; 1901, one adult ; 1902, one adult ; 1903, 

 May, no Osprey. 



When the birds resume their nesting at Loch-an-Eilein 



as it is to be hoped they will do they should, if possible, 



be protected even more carefully than in the past, for there 



