Mr A. Orairj, Jun., on the Birds of Glenurquhart. 123 



but if he remains quite still, they will come close to haiul. 

 Along the Abriachan road they sit on the parapet wall or 

 telegraph wire until any one approaches, when they make a 

 sudden dive, like the wheatear, apparently to the ground, 

 but on looking at the spot where they have disappeared no 

 trace is found, as they have flitted silently a long way ahead. 

 They fly out from the trees, and return again after the man- 

 ner of the fly-catcher or the robin, and, from showing the red 

 tail very prominently on these occasions, they are recognis- 

 able at a considerable distance. On Craig-na they may be 

 seen flitting from tree to tree, almost invariably landing on 

 the decayed stumpy branches which project from the stems 

 of the pines ; and in the solitary parts, where scarcely any 

 other birds are met with, they may be heard whistling a very 

 melodious though short song. 



Whinchat (Saxicola ruhetra). 



Not by any means plentiful, but observed during summer 

 at different points over the estate. I have noticed them 

 more particularly on one farm, called KerroAvdown, where a 

 little burn finds its way to join the Enerick through an open 

 drain built of stonework, and although there are no whins 

 anywhere near, they build either under cover of some bramble 

 bushes alongside the drain or else among the loose stones. 



Wheatear {Saxicola mnanthc). 



Both the Lowland Scotch name of " Stanechacker," and 

 the Gaelic name " Clacharan," are derived from the note of 

 this bird, which resembles two stones knocked smartly 

 against each other. Amongst the earliest migrants to arrive, 

 they are always welcome as the forerunners of summer weather. 

 In Glenurquhart they are most numerous on the slope from 

 Gartallie to Cat-House, the dry-stone dykes which divide 

 the little crofts being congenial to their habits. Like the 

 whinchat, when any one approaches too close to their nesting- 

 place, they incessantly emit the chack-chacking sound, finish- 

 ing with a clear sharp whistle, indicative of alarm. 



