110 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



the more so to the ornithologist, as it is, without exception, 

 the finest point of vantage in the whole Glen for observing 

 the ways and manners of almost all the small birds which 

 inhabit the district. In the early mornings, but more parti- 

 cularly towards the close of the day, they come there in 

 flocks to slake their thirst and perform their ablutions, so 

 that one has nothing to do but rest quietly in close proximity 

 to the pool, and he will have the satisfaction of seeing a 

 greater number of species in a few hours than he would 

 manage to do in whole days of scouring the district. The 

 long-tailed tits in particular haunt the tops of the trees in 

 the evenings, halting about the vicinity of the pool for a time 

 while en route for their roosting ground. 



Spotted Flycatchek {Muscicapa grisola). 



Frequently to be seen in summer sitting on the dykes and 

 wire fences which enclose the fields, and readily recognised 

 by its manner of darting out a few yards into the air after 

 an insect, and as quickly returning to its perch. 



Kingfisher (Alcedo ispicla). 



Although found much farther north, I cannot remember 

 having seen it in Glenurquhart ; yet the people assert that 

 it has been seen on the banks of the river Enerick. In 

 many country districts of Scotland the water ouzel and the 

 common sandpiper go by the names of kingfisher ; probably, 

 therefore, the mistake may have originated in the confusion 

 of either of those two birds with Alcedo ispida. 



Hoopoe {Upupa epops). 



It was related a few years ago in the newspapers that a 

 pair of these birds was seen by a gentleman, while fishing 

 in the river Glass, on the property of Lord Lovat, about 

 twelve miles distant from Glenurquhart. Being observed 

 so close to the district, I have included the hoopoe in the 

 list, as there is little doubt of the truth of the newspaper 

 account. 



