288 HILL BIRDS OF SCOTLAND 



against the cold wind. As their mother fluttered away 

 the chicks commenced to shiver, and sought what shelter 

 they could, half burying their small bodies in any crevices 

 amongst the peat-hags. We reached the Dunlin's nesting 

 site, but for a time were unable to find the nest. But 

 then we came across a sucked egg-shell, and a little later 

 the primitive hollow quite deserted. In all probability 

 the tragedy was the work of a stoat, which had scented 

 out and sucked the eggs, for I think it scarcely probable 

 that a Gull or Hoodie could have discovered them. 



We moved down to the lochan, watched, as we did so, 

 by more than one pair of Golden Plover which had hatched 

 off their brood since our last visit and were calling plain- 

 tively and continuously, and almost at once disturbed a 

 male Dunlin on guard. The bird rose into the wind, and, 

 after wheeling and dashing through the air,' came to rest 

 on a knoll near, uttering characteristic scraping cries. A 

 little farther along we saw his mate amongst some tufty 

 grass ; but as we approached she disappeared mysteri- 

 ously, and so we moved forward till we reached the edge 

 of the plateau and looked down into the deep corrie be- 

 neath, leaving the Dunlin to return to their young. 



In the corrie the air was still, and many hinds with 

 their attendant calves could be seen crossing the burn 

 far beneath us. A few yards away there lay the fast- 

 diminishing field of snow that at times lingers in the 

 corrie till late in the summer. Heavy masses of black 

 cloud hurried past overhead, moving at great speed, and 

 from time to time the hills were hidden in thick rain- 

 squalls. After a time I moved back to the Dunlin ground, 

 while my companion continued on his way. Again the 

 cock Dunlin rose from the moss. This time, after dashing 

 backwards and forwards, he came above my head and 

 soared in the teeth of the gale for some little time. 



His wings were motionless ; yet he stood his ground, 



