NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OP GLASGOW. 235 



larger bags may be made, in a favourable season, than here. Only a 

 few years ago the mosses covered a considerable extent of ground, 

 but now they are being rapidly drained and turned into arable land. 

 The only natural feature which excites the admiration of any 

 chance visitor to Buchan is the coast line, which consists of lofty 

 and rugged cliffs, worn into the most extraordinary and picturesque 

 shapes by the combined action of wind and wave, with, here and 

 there, a low-lying piece of ground, consisting of sand-hills covered 

 with bent grass, and which offers a temporary resting-place to 

 Woodcock and numerous other birds when they first land on the 

 coast. There is no finer coast scenery in Scotland than the Bullers 

 of Buchan, the rocks at Slains Castle, Pennon Rocks (352 feet 

 above the sea), Troup Head (309 feet), Gamrie More (403 feet), 

 tfcc. On these cliffs numerous species of sea-birds, such as the 

 Razor-bill, Kittiwake, Guillemot, and Puffin, take up their abode. 

 Several fresh-water lochs offer great attractions to almost every 

 variety of wild-fowl, chiefly on account of their shallow and 

 marshy character, and in the case of Strathbeg, where more rare 

 wild-fowl have been obtained than anywhere else in Scotland, 

 perhaps on account of its being the most easterly fresh-water loch 

 in the country. The Loch of Strathbeg possesses no natural beauty, 

 and is as dreary a spot as can well be imagined. It is about 3^ 

 miles long by h mile broad at the widest part, and is situated about 

 halfway between Peterhead and Fraserburgh, on the estate of Mr. 

 Gordon of Cairness. In severe winters, when all the smaller lochs 

 are covered with ice, wild-fowl flock here in countless numbers, 

 while in spring it is the resort of numerous species of gulls, 

 waders, and ducks, for breeding purposes. Along its banks, and 

 among the rushes, which extend for a considerable distance into 

 the lake, nestle many varieties of small birds. 



Many species are increasing in number annually, while others 

 are rapidly becoming extinct. Among the former may be noted : — 

 the Missel Thrush; Great, Blue, and Coal Titmice; Bullfinch; 

 Starling; Rook; Jackdaw; Tree Creeper; Wood Pigeon; Pheasant; 

 and Lapwing; and we have not far to go to find a cause for this 

 increase. It is without doubt the annually increasing acreage 

 under wood. On the other hand, nearly all the raptorial bird.--, 

 the Goldfinch, Rock Dove, Black Grouse, and Common Snipe are 

 becoming scarcer. All kinds of Hawks are shot down and trapped 

 by gamekeepers, without reference to species, or the damage done 



