Mr A. Craifj, Jun., on the Birds of GlcnurqiChart. I'll 



Golden Plover (Charadrius pluvialis). 

 Breeds on the moor between Glenurquhart and Beauly. 



Lapwing ( Vanellus cristatus). 



Also found in same neighbourhood, but not in such num- 

 bers as in the Lowlands. 



Heron (Ardea cinerea). 



Pays a visit to the shores of Urquhart Bay, and also to 

 the river sides and hill lochs. It may only be fancy, but I 

 cannot help thinking that this bird is becoming scarcer every 

 year, as I used to see far more fourteen or fifteen years ago 

 than I have done of late. 



Curlew {Numenius arqimta). 



Inhabits the same ground as the lapwing and plover, but 

 does not appear to be very numerous. 



Common Sandpiper {Totanus h'l^poleucos). 



On the banks of the Enerick, especially near its moutli, 

 the " Sandy Laverock," as it is called in some districts, is a 

 regular inhabitant in summer. Every one who knows the 

 bird must be aware of its habit of flying backwards and 

 forwards in a zig-zag line close to the surface of the water, 

 all the time whistling in a peculiarly shrill manner. It does 

 the same during the dark hours of night, and its cries beget 

 an " eerie " feeling, and are sometimes very startling to ner- 

 vous people. Its nest is frequently placed in most exposed 

 situations, where it can scarcely escape detection. 



Amidst the wildest and most unfrequented portion of a 

 very uninviting and barren stretch of country lying midway 

 between Glenurquhart and Beauly, are situated a number of 

 tarns, known as the " Pike Lochs ; " so called from the 

 quantity of these fish that inhabit the waters. In their 

 vicinity, and on a little island Avhich rises out of one of tliem, 



