296 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



contrast to the Island of Benbecula. I arrived there 

 at the end of July, 1889, my purpose being to kill 

 some salmon on the river and Grouse on the moun- 

 tains ; as the proprietor of the hotel there had 

 advertised both for the entertainment of his visitors, 

 whose intention was to make something more than 

 a passing visit. I found the spacious and up-to-date 

 hotel most comfortable in every way, and the land- 

 lord, Donald McKintosh. one of the best fellows in 

 the world, a typical Scotchman in fact, long-headed, 

 and shrewd ; still, withal, an extremely generous, 

 large-hearted, sympathetic man, who was a fund of 

 amusement in himself, for he could tell a tale 

 against the best of men ; and oh ! what a stock he 

 had of them ! they were simply endless. The first 

 fortnight being dry, and no water for salmon to run 

 up into the river, I had to content myself with sea 

 fishing, which was excellent. At last Grouse Day 

 came, which happened to fall on the 13th. Being 

 the oldest visitor in the house, McKintosh, in the 

 straightforward manner which was his wont, gfave 

 me the first offer to go out on his mountain after 

 Grouse ; allowing me to go entirely by myself, at 

 the same time supplying me with a good ghlllie and 

 an old English setter, which had, no doubt, been a 

 rare o-ood one in his time. Well, I had a most 

 enjoyable day, the only drawback being that I 

 hadn't taken enough cartridges, and that, the 

 weather being sultry, the poor old dog was done up 

 by early afternoon, so that the ghillie and I had to 

 pretty well carry him on returning to the hotel. 



