1890-91.] Bii-ds of tlie Great Glen. 445 



be the snowy bird, as it was so much larger than the barn- 

 owl. This assertion is only given for what it is worth, as I 

 cannot guarantee it further than by quoting his report. 



The next in order to be taken are the Corvidae or crows. 

 The largest example, the raven, is not so often seen as in 

 some other parts of Scotland ; but still it crops up now and 

 then, and a few years ago a pair were believed to be breeding 

 about Mealfourvounie : let us hope they are there still. Last 

 year, when in Eoss-shire, I had an opportunity of seeing a 

 pair of those interesting and scarce birds. While crossing 

 the muir near Strome Ferry with a friend, our attention was 

 attracted by a hoarse croak, and looking up a pair of ravens 

 were noticed winging their way towards Loch Alsh, but at 

 such a height that they looked no larger than blackbirds ; and 

 were it not for the harsh sound, they might have passed 

 unobserved. Tliey breed somewhere in the unfrequented 

 country about the head of Loch Long, a distinct not much 

 penetrated save by pedestrians desirous of viewing the famous 

 Falls of Glomach, the highest and, in some respects, grandest 

 waterfall in Scotland. The carrion crow is not so numerous 

 as the hooded or grey species. The latter manages to survive 

 the constant warfare waged against it, and continues annually 

 to build somewhere about the glen. Far up among the hills 

 that swell around Mealfourvounie is a little loch called Aslich, 

 and upon some stunted trees that partially cover a rocky 

 island in the midst of the water, this bird used to breed 

 regularly. There is a shooting bothy on the rock, where the 

 deer-stalkers sleep overnight ; and latterly the crows deserted 

 the nest, as they found to their cost that, so far as their 

 young was concerned, the site was in too close proximity to 

 the keeper to be altogether pleasant. In the choice of a 

 situation for its habitation this crow displays an extraordinary 

 amount of cunning, the tree fixed upon usually commanding a 

 view of every possible approach, so that the female sitting 

 upon the eggs has plenty of time to glide off before the 

 intruder can get within range. Except when the young are 

 newly hatched, it is almost impossible to get within firing 

 distance ; but under the former circumstances she sits rather 

 close, and keepers occasionally shoot both old and young 

 through the bottom of the nest. The exterior of this is very 



