68 CATALOrrFE OF BIRDS. 



Starting before daybreak, accompanied by one 

 keeper, and a gillie leading a pony with provisions and 

 plaids, in case we did not get back that night, I had, 

 by mid-day, gone over several of the rough hills that 

 lay between Loch Rannoch and the Lyon ; and after 

 about ten hours' work without having started a single 

 female, as heavy thunder was rumbling away among 

 the hills to the west, and there appeared every indica- 

 tion of an approaching tempest, I had come to the 

 conclusion that it would be the wisest plan to return 

 home, and renew our search in more favourable 

 weather. 



While resting for a short time after lunch on the 

 top of the hill, before turning back, we were surprised 

 by a shot, and on looking with the glasses far below us, 

 we could make out three men with about a dozen dogs, 

 trying to bolt a fox from a rough cairn of stones. 

 We afterwards learned that although the foxes had 

 been there very lately, as was clearly indicated by the 

 remains of some fresh Grouse and Hares, which the 

 terriers dragged from the earth, none of the family 

 were then at home. 



The shot had been fired at a young Eaven, which 

 had been hatched in the rocks above the fox cairn. 

 The old birds were very noisy, but being too good 

 judges of distance to venture within shot, unfortunately 

 escaped. 



Just then a fine cock Ptarmigan appeared on a large 

 rock close by, and as he resolutely refused to leave the 

 spot, running only a yard or two in advance of us 

 when we approached him, we searched every inch of the 

 ground, which was almost a mass of large stones, but 

 without putting up the female, although by the actions 



