34 BIRDS OF LOCH AND MOUNTAIN 



to take care of themselves. The hen is a fairly 

 close sitter, but rarely allows the ornithologist to 

 approach near enough to " snap " her. I only once 

 secured a photograph of a hen bird on her nest, 

 and this was at a distance of over twelve feet. One 

 nest that I found was situated in a very favour- 

 able position for photographing the sitting bird, so I 

 visited this nest several times until I got within 

 about six feet of my sitter, and was just about to 

 release the shutter when the bird, who had stood 

 the ordeal bravely up to now, suddenly rose from 

 the nest with a great flapping of wings, and my 

 chance was lost. For several days afterwards I 

 attempted to regain her confidence, but all in vain. 

 Evidently her nerves were completely unstrung, 

 and she never afterwards allowed any near 

 approach. 



It is often the case that when these heavy 

 birds rise hurriedly from the nest they carry 

 some of the eggs with them for several feet ; and, as 

 they never seem to have sufficient sense to replace 

 these in the nest, no matter how close they may be, 

 the eggs are rendered useless. Especially is this 

 the case with the Ring Dove ; five times out of 

 ten, when this bird rises from her nest one of her 

 eggs is carried out of the nest with her, and 

 usually caught on the branches of the tree. 



The Capercailzies roost on the branches of 

 the firs, and often at night, when one is passing 

 through the forest, their heavy flapping is heard 

 as they leave their roosting sites. .When a nest 

 is discovered from which the young ones have 

 been hatched, it is noticeable that the egg-shells 

 are almost invariably broken in the centre, and one 

 half placed within the other. This I think can- 



