NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 143 



almost invariably hens. The number of eggs in a nest varies from 

 seven or eight to thirteen. 



77. Black Grouse. Tetrao tetrix, Lin. — This species seems 

 much more independent of wood than many people suppose. On 

 the Balnacoil shooting I had no wood to speak of, and none in 

 which Blackgame either bred or to which they resorted, except 

 on rare occasions; and yet I had plenty of them. These birds 

 like the edges of burns where there are plenty of rushes or long 

 heather and brackens, especially at the commencement of the 

 season. When the old cocks are moulting in August they lie very 

 close in the detached patches of brackens here and there through 

 the hill, and are not very easy to raise ; at other times they are wild 

 enough and not often caught napping. I have seen a cock in May 

 still retaining many of its immature brown feathers. Greyhens 

 seem to be bad mothers, often only having one young bird with 

 them, and, I fancy, they do not breed regularly every year, at least 

 there always seems to be a number of barren birds going about at 

 all seasons. During the severe weather of December, 1878, or 1879, 

 I shot one old Blackcock with lumps of ice on its feet. 



78. Pheasant. Phasianus colchicus, Lin. — Fairly common about 

 Dunrobin, and has been introduced at Suisgill, on the Helmsdale 

 strath, where I have often seen them. 



79. Partridge. Perdix cinerea, Charleton. — Common along the 

 coast, and goes far up to the shepherds' lots among the hills to 

 breed. During the storm last December, I saw several large flocks 

 flying over the fields at Kintradwell, apparently driven to seek 

 shelter lower down than usual, on account of the snow. 



80. Quail. Coturnix communis, Bonn. — Has been shot on one 

 or two occasions at Brora, in the autumn. 



81. Heron. Ardea cinerea, Lin. — There used to be a small 

 Heronry near Loch Brora, on the forest-side, and from it I have 

 taken eggs at the end of March. On visiting the same place in the 

 spring of 1879, I found it deserted, the^Herons, or at least a few 

 pairs of them, having crossed the loch, and breeding on the 

 Gordonbush side. On an island in Loch Madie, near Altnaharra, 

 I have taken fresh eggs, and seen young ones nearly able to fly at 

 the end of May. 



82. Curlew. Numenius arquata (Lin.). — A common species, 

 and very evenly distributed over the hills during the breeding- 

 season. The earliest nest I have taken was on the 26th of April, 



