THE BIRD-LIFE OF THE SPEY VALLEY. 97 
where it has only of late years been distinguished from the 
wood-pigeon. The stock-dove breeds in holes in rocks and 
banks, and the nest has been found in the Cromdale and 
Advie districts of Strathspey. 
One of the most conspicuous birds on the pools and lochs 
is the coot. It has a curious practice of occasionally laying 
a single egg in the nest of the black-headed gull, along with 
the gull’s eggs. 
The moorhen is also common, but keeps more to the 
streams, and a family of old and young birds may sometimes 
be seen near the farm steadings in a half-tame condition, 
associating with the farm-yard ducks. 
The curious rattling call of the water-rail may be heard 
in the spring among the reed-beds of Loch Insh, but one is 
seldom able to catch a glimpse of the shy, skulking bird 
itself. 
There are several small heronries in the neighbourhood, 
the largest being probably that on the banks of the Avon, 
between Drumin and Kilmaichly, and the herons may be 
seen fishing, solitary, far up amongst the hills. 
The interesting family of waders is one which is particu- 
larly well represented in the district, especially, as has been 
already said, in the breeding season. The cheery little sand- 
pipers are met with everywhere, tripping along the sandy 
beaches of the lochs, and flying before one as one follows the 
course of the streams. 
Another common species is the redshank, with its beauti- 
fully-marked black and white plumage, and legs the colour 
of red sealing-wax. Numbers of these birds nest in the 
marshy meadows about Loch Insh, and if one disturbs them, 
fly distractedly round and round the intruder, giving their 
double-noted, whistling cry of alarm, and with their wings 
drooped in the fashion peculiar to them. The nest is usually 
well concealed in a tuft of coarse grass, and it requires a 
sharp eye to spot and keep in view the exact tussock from 
which the bird has sprung 100 yards or so away. A much 
rarer bird is the greenshank, similar to, but a good deal 
larger than, the last-named, and, as its name implies, with 
green legs. A few pairs may generally be found scattered 
thinly over the wilder parts of the river valleys, and the 
VOL. I. 
