292 Mr Selby ofi the Quadrupeds and Birds 



fired atj could not a^in be approached, but we obtained one of the 

 young, apparently about a fortnight old, by means of a water-dog. An- 

 other pair were shot near Scourie, by the margin of a small loch, where, 

 from their violent outcries and alarm, they evidently had their nest or 



young, though we were unable to find either. 69. Scolopax gallinago. 



Common Snipe. Is very abundant in all the moory and marshy tracts. 

 60. S. gallinula. Jack Snipe. The gamekeeper of the Tongue dis- 

 trict assured us that the jack snipe breeds in Sutherland almost every 

 year, and that he had obtained the eggs, as well as young, in some boggy 

 ground, about two miles from Tongue, He shewed such an intimate 

 knowledge of the bird, as to do away with any impression upon our 

 minds of a mistake as to the species. Sir William Jardine accompanied 

 him to a spot where he had frequently seen them in summer, but he was 

 not so fortunate as to meet with any. The situation and ground was, 

 however, apparently exactly suited to their habits. In winter it is plen- 

 tiful in the lower springs. 61. Tringa variabilis. Dunlin or Purre. In 



the summer or dunlin plumage we found the common purre abundant upon 

 the margins of all the lochs. The nest is usually placed under the shelter 

 of some tuft or bush, removed a short distance from the usual water-line 

 of the loch. — "62. Crex pratensis. Meadow Crake or Com Crake. Is very 



abundant in all the lower Straths, where cultivation exists. 6S. Fulica 



atra. Common Coot. Was heard among the reeds which skirt the south- 

 ern side of Loch Doulich, about two and a half miles from Lairg. 64. 



Haematopus ostralegus. Oyster- Catcher. Common upon the margin of 

 Loch Shin, where it breeds, and upon most of the salt-water friths and 



lochs, such as those of Eriboll, Tongue, &c. 65. Vanellus cristatus. 



Common Lapwing. Very abundant throughout the county. 66. Cha- 



radrius pluvialis. Golden Plover. Plentiful throughout the county, but 

 particularly abundant in the district between Lairg and Tongue, the 

 parish of Durness, Scourie, &c. Sutherland appears to be the great 



breeding-station of this species. 67. C. Hiaticula, Ring Plover or Ring 



Dottrel. Upon the margins of all the lochs and larger streams very nume- 

 rous. 68. Anas ferus {Segetum, auct.) Bean-goose. We were agreeably 



surprised to find that the bean-goose annually breeds upon several of the 

 Sutherland lakes. The first intimation we received of this interesting fact 

 was at Lairg, where we were informed that a few pairs bred upon some 

 islands about twelve miles up Loch Shin. We accordingly took boat the 

 following morning, and upon arriving at the place, discovered a single pair, 

 attended by four or five young goslings. None were obtained, as the 

 old birds, being wild, escaped seemingly uninjured, although repeatedly 

 fired at, and the goslings immediately dived and escaped into the reeds 

 and other herbage. Upon Loch Naver we also found several pairs at- 

 tended by their young, seemingly about a fortnight or three weeks old, 

 one of which, after a severe chase, we procured. Upon the islands of 

 Loch Laighal, from thirty to forty pairs, we were informed, annually had 

 their nests. We saw several old birds, and the nests that had been used, 

 which are concealed in heath upwards of three feet in height, that covers 



