inhahitifig the County of Sutherland. 287 



when nearly beyond the ken of sight, though persecuted as assiduously 

 as the former species, being considered as equally destructive to the 

 flocks. It breeds upon the highest maritime cliffs, such as those of Far- 

 out-head, Whiting-head, &c., as well as upon islands in some of the 

 larger fresh-water lochs. At Far-out-head we contemplated for some 

 time the evolutions of two adult birds of this species, almost within gun- 

 shot beneath us, and which were supposed to have their eyry in the face 

 of the rock. Their flight was easy and graceful, and in large winding 



sweeps. 3. Pandion haliaetus, Osprey. The osprey appears to be most 



abundant upon the western coast of Sutherland, affecting the numerous salt- 

 water inlets or lochs which indent that rugged and rocky barrier of the 

 county, and more particularly those into which the larger streams dis- 

 charge themselves, as it is upon the Salmonidce that they appear chiefly to 

 subsist. At the mouth of the Saxfiord, a celebrated salmon stream (as 

 the name imports), we observed three or four upon the wing at a time, 

 sometimes soaring at great height in extensive circles, at others hovering 

 over the channel of the river where it enters the sea, intently watching 

 and seeking their slippery prey beneath. They hang suspended in the 

 air like the kestril, but with a slower motion of the wings, and their plunge 

 is made with a rapidity almost incredible, and with an impetus so great 

 as completely to submerge the entire body of the bird. Here I cannot help 

 remarking the beautiful adaptation of the plumage of this bird to its mode 

 of life, for instead of the long lax plumes which adorn the thighs of the 

 terrene raptores, the osprey has these parts covered with close set fea- 

 thers, and the whole of the under-plumage bears a strong analogy to that 

 of the Natatores. When successful they bore off their prey in their talons 

 to the summit of some of the neighbouring hills, there to devour it at 

 leisure. Their food at this time mostly consisted of the sea-trout, Salmo 

 trutta, which had just commenced running, that is, were quitting the sea 

 for the rivers and fresh-water lochs. It not unfrequently happens that 

 they grasp at more than they are able to accomplish, and pounce a fish 

 too large and heavy to raise out of the water. Upon such occasions, after 

 continuing the struggle for some time, they at length relax their hold, 

 which they do without difficulty, though we are told, that, under such 

 circumstances, the bird is generally drowned, being imable to extricate 

 its talons from its finny prey. Mr Baigery, the factor of the Laurie dis- 

 trict, to whom we are under many obligations, a short period before our 

 arrival had witnessed an interesting struggle of this kind, in which the 

 bird, after repeated attempts to raise the fish (a large grilse or salmon) 

 was finally obliged to quit his hold, and suffer it to escape. The osprey 

 is also to be seen upon most of the larger fresh- water lochs. At Assynt 

 a pair have long had their eyry upon the remains of an ancient castle about 

 a mile below Inch-na-Damff. They remain generally unmolested by the 

 hunters, as they never attack the lambs, their food being entirely restrict- 

 ed to fish.— 4. Falco islandicus, Jer-Falcon. I do not insert this noble 

 species as a constant inhabitant of Sutherland, but as an occasional visi- 



