THE WILDS OF SUTHERLAND. 249 



milch cow. Next came her sister, skilfully driv- 

 ing four sheep with the aid of their two collies. 

 The hale mother now trudged forward with a 

 hen in her apron. Lastly followed the patriarch, 

 like Jacob, with staff in hand, and at a sufficient 

 distance behind the procession to give him a good 

 view of the whole. There could not be a more 

 contented or healthy - looking family, and the 

 stately father, with his ruddy face browned by 

 the mountain blasts, was a noble type of the 

 Highland shepherd. 



A half-way ferry and constant succession of 

 steep hills between Scourie and Inchnadamff, 

 lengthened the way so much that the long day 

 had faded into twilight ere we were housed for 

 the night. My former fishing - guide of Loch 

 Assynt, who was then the Duke's game-preserver, 

 is now landlord at Inchnadamff. If any one 

 could give a hint about a bird we have long 

 wished for, John Sutherland, our host, is the man. 



We already possessed specimens of the great 

 northern diver, both in spring and winter plum- 

 age, also of the red-throat; but black-throated 

 divers, although pretty common in the northern 



