1890-91-] Birds of the Great Glen. 443 



who shot them : he is dead now, so we need not comment 

 upon his conduct. The buzzard, if allowed ordinary peace, 

 would not be rare, and, even with the drawback of inveterate 

 enmity to its presence, still continues to put in an appearance, 

 but unfortunately it seldom does so witliout falling a prey to 

 the watchful guardian of the precious game. 



Another buzzard has been observed at odd intervals, which 

 I take to be the rough-legged buzzard, judging from the some- 

 what vague descriptions vouchsafed. A much commoner 

 visitor, and even occasional resident, is the peregrine falcon. 

 It has bred in the vicinity of Mealfourvounie, and also in a 

 wild district to the north of Loch Meikley, among the hills 

 trending towards Strath Glass. The remaining hawks most 

 commonly met with are the merlin, kestrel, and sJDarrow- 

 hawk. The former is rare, but builds not unfrequently in the 

 Abriachan district, — a beautiful rocky country, about which 

 something falls to be said subsequently. The two latter are 

 almost able to hold their ground, the kestrel being by no 

 means so detrimental to game as either of the other two, and 

 not so uniformly harassed. The sparrow-hawk lacks nothing if 

 boldness will attain its object. You may observe it sitting on 

 the high part of a tree commanding a good survey of the 

 pheasantry, until, deeming the moment favourable and the 

 coast clear, down it flies with great velocity, and leaves the 

 pheasant-rearer minus a chick, from which performance there 

 is a certain amount of satisfaction to be derived by an 

 onlooker other than a sportsman. 



Turning for a moment to the Strigidre or owls, four species 

 have undoubtedly occurred, and another is reported, although 

 on somewhat slender authority. Both the short and long- 

 eared birds have been noticed, but needless to say they are 

 far from numerous. The barn-owl again, at one time, was not 

 unusually found, though never so often as the tawny species. 

 The last refuge of the barn or white owl seems to be Craig- 

 Mony, — one of those strange conglomerate masses that rise 

 abruptly out of a thick pine-wood, and on the summit of which 

 are traces, indistinct however, of an ancient hill-fort. The 

 rock at the top stands out precipitously from the wood, and 

 amidst the dark masses of pine-tree along the base this owl 

 finds a comparatively safe retreat. A curious tradition, of 



