162 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



his long field-glass in tlie direction of the wild torrent course 

 which separates Meall an t'Suidhe from Ben Nevis on the 

 north-west, 'look there, is that a great sea gull which has 

 been on a visit to the mountain ? ' A look at it convinced me 

 he was right, when he added, 'No, they are' (for another had 

 come into view) ' the large hawks you were asking about.' 

 Nearer they came and nearer, almost on a level with the eye. 

 The spot on which we were resting was about 1000 feet above 

 the level of the sea. They floated gently across Glen Nevis 

 on motionless wing, and, suddenly, as if they had observed 

 us, by a few rapid forward and upward strokes, they mounted 

 far above us, but not so far as to hide the long wide wings 

 and definitely emarginate tail ; and then hovering over head 

 for a moment, they struck away in arrowy speed in the 

 direction of Glencoe. We had been looking at a pair of red 

 kites. It was a rare chance." But such chances come in the 

 field, chiefly, perhaps, because we look for them. 



The osprey {Haliaetus albicilla). — Before leaving Lochaber 

 I made out a list of birds, and gave it in charge to a friend 

 who had good opportunity to gather information from game- 

 keepers and others. None of the birds I had myself seen 

 were included in the list. Two questions were asked in 

 regard to each— (1.) ' Where seen ? ' and (2.) ' When ? ' The 

 note appended to this bird is — " The grey eagle was shot at 

 by gamekeeper in September." 



Owls {Strigidm). — I was again and again informed by 

 keepers and others that three species of owl are met with in 

 the district. The description of these birds by my informants 

 warrant their being placed in the list. All I have to record 

 is contained in the following brief notes : " July 1 — As twi- 

 light deepened an owl flitted on soft wing, with rapid but 

 noiseless stroke, past the cottage, which it approached from 

 the direction of the ruined castle. Before it appeared the 

 bats had been out for some time, but no sooner had it come 

 than they passed out of sight, and continued so for about a 

 quarter of an hour, when they again resumed their rapid but 

 spasmodic flight. Had the disappearance any connection 

 with the presence of the owl ? Will the owl take the bat 

 as the bat the twilight moth ? Could not make out the 



