134 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



December 10. At noon two Ravens were hovering over the summit. 



December 20. While ascending the hill to-day, Mr. W. S. Bruce 

 saw tracks of a Fox (or Foxes) from the Lake (1700 feet) to 

 the Plateau of Storms (4000 feet) ; also tracks of a Weasel at 

 2500 feet ; of a Hare at 2500 feet ; of a Ptarmigan (?) at 2000 

 feet. He picked up Insects in the snow at 2200 feet (also on 

 the 1 8th December at 2500 and 2200 feet ; those at 2200 were 

 probably Collembola). At the Plateau of Storms he emerged 

 from the thick haze which extended to the foot of the hill ; at 

 the top of this haze was a layer of fog which was breaking up 

 at that time. There was noted what appeared to be the track 

 of a Fox on the roof and at window of the Observatory which 

 must have been there all night. 



December 31. At 12 hours 30 minutes the cat caught a Common 

 Field Vole (Microtus agrestis). At 16 hours the fresh tracks 

 of a Fox were seen in the Plateau of Storms (4000 feet). 



1896. 



January 4. Some Flies were observed frozen on the snow to-day. 

 January 22. At 15 hours a Raven was seen near the Observatory. 



February 8. Living Flies were seen on the snow to-day, and some 

 were captured. 



February 15. A Snow Bunting was seen on the roof of the Hotel 

 at 9 hours, and two flew round the Observatory at 16 hours, 

 going over the cliff past the Cairn ; another flew past the 

 Observatory at 16 hours 20 minutes. Flies at 4000 and 

 Spiders at 3400 and 4300 feet were observed. 



In the afternoon the summit was clear, but fog filled the 

 valleys to 3000 feet ; later the sky became overcast, and these 

 clouds settled down as fog on the summit. 



February 17. Snow Buntings and a Raven seen at 3500 feet. 



February 18. A Snow Bunting seen at 16 hours. 



There is so little snow on the hill-sides that a horse with a 

 load of fresh provisions was taken up to the Observatory to-day. 



February 20. Tracks of two Foxes seen at about 4000 feet. 



February 21. Two Snow Buntings and a Raven seen to-day, and 

 marks supposed to be of an Eagle on the snow near the summit. 



February 22. Snow Bunting seen at kitchen window. 



March n. Snow Bunting seen at kitchen window at 6 hours, and 

 during the day many dead Flies on the surface of the snow. 



March 14. Raven seen in afternoon. 



