CROMARTY FRITH. 479 



by the manner in which they erect their necks. The number 

 in view at this moment cannot be less than five or six thou- 

 sand. In the pools, and among the scattered fuel, are small 

 fishes, shells and echini, which are daily gleaned by the gulls. 

 Auks and Guillemots are flying out to sea, where they w411 re- 

 main until the tide begins to flow again, and here and there is 

 seen a Red-throated Diver, stemming the waves like a gallant 

 bark, or pursuing his seaward flight on rapid pinions. But it 

 is alreadv seven o'clock, and before w^e get to Invergordon bar- 

 hour, even with this favourable breeze, it will be quite dark. 



Next day, I sailed to the head of the Frith, landing alter- 

 nately on both sides to observe the rocks, which are of red 

 sandstone and conglomerate, of the oldest series, or that called 

 by some Primitive Sandstone, being composed of fragments 

 and detritus of primitive rocks. Long-tailed Ducks, and 

 Mallards occur plentifully towards low water along the 

 edges of the mud banks, on which are also seen Curlews, 

 Redshanks, and Lapwings, while on the gravelly and pebbly 

 beaches are numerous small flocks of Ringed Plovers, Chara- 

 drius Hiaticula. Hooded Crows, Corvus Cornix, are very 

 plentiful ; Rooks still more so ; but I met with no Carrion 

 Crows, Ravens, or Jackdaws. In the w^oods and fields I ob- 

 served the small birds common in almost all parts of Scotland ; 

 the Field Lark carolled its ever-pleasing song ; the Meadow 

 Pipit w^as seen here and there ; the beautiful White Wagtail 

 occurred in considerable numbers ; and the Sparrow, although 

 by no means common, was seen in the villages. The salmon 

 fishers on the Conon informed me that seals often make their 

 way as far as the bridge, and are sometimes caught in the nets ; 

 but that the porpoises, although they enter the frith, never 

 ascend the fresh water. 



Let us now hurry southward as fast as four steeds can carry 

 us ; and as we have under o^one considerable fatiofue these three 

 days, and have little to see by the way that we have not seen 

 before, let us get within, and between dozing, dreaming, and 

 concocting fanciful systems of ornithology, forget if possible 

 how the time passes until, pine forest and birch wood, moun- 

 tain ranges clad with snow, barren moors covered with heath 



