24 BIRDS OF LOCH AND MOUNTAIN 



retired behind a neighbouring hillock, hoping that 

 on her return the hen would sit more obligingly. 

 As I was lying in my place of concealment, the 

 sun set in full splendour beyond the mighty hills 

 to the north-west, on which the winter snow still 

 lay in deep wreaths, untouched by the summer 

 sun. Suddenly, in the distance, that most beau- 

 tiful of all the sounds of the bird world the clear, 

 mournful whistle of the soaring Curlew was borne 

 up from the moors to me, while every now and again 

 the wailing pipe of the Golden Plover, which were 

 nesting freely in the neighbourhood, and the call 

 of a cock Grouse, as he settled down for the night, 

 disturbed the silence of the evening. At length, 

 after a wait of close on an hour, I ventured back 

 to the nest ; but, alas ! the mother Grouse had not 

 yet returned, and so I had to give up the attempt 

 for that day, having had my ten miles' journey 

 for nothing. On my way down the hill, a cock 

 Grouse rose at my feet in a great state of excite- 

 ment ; and, looking about, I saw crouching low on 

 the ground a hen bird with her children beneath 

 her wings. To photograph her required a good 

 deal of careful stalking, but in the evening, when 

 the frost begins to be felt, the old birds are more 

 confiding than during the day, as the young birds 

 would, if left uncovered, die of cold in a very short 

 time. 



Although on this occasion my photographs 

 of the brooding Grouse on the nest were not satis- 

 factory, I determined to make another attempt. 

 So a day or two later I set out in the early 

 morning, so as to get the sun in a good position. 

 This particular hillside is a very favourite one with 

 the Red Grouse, and on my way up the hill I 



