162 WILD LIFE OF SCOTLAND 



Pairs of unprotected female tourists were on the 

 road, evidently touched with a like Bohemian mood, 

 and trusting to chance for lodging when night fell. 

 This struck me as a pleasing testimony to the 

 security of the times; and a comparatively innocent 

 manifestation of a modern spirit, with many more 

 unpleasant developments. But it scarcely belongs 

 to the wild life of Scotland. 



Redstarts abounded, especially in the neighbour- 

 hood of the few scattered cottages. I was the 

 more struck with this, having just come from a 

 country-side which they never visit. After all, 

 only comparatively few species are universally 

 distributed. The majority of so-called common 

 birds are so uncommon twenty miles away, as to be 

 practically unknown. The lists of local observers 

 are mainly useful for comparison! 



The redstart, like the wheatear, is an exception 

 to the rule that a bird is usually sober coloured 

 when flying away, as if to conceal it from a 

 pursuing enemy. The majority of species display 

 such attractions as they possess, on their approach. 



A yellow-hammer was sitting on a stone dyke, 

 trilling out his simple and yet not unpleasant lay ; 

 for he is a very late, if not the very latest of our 

 spring singers. A pair of reed-buntings were 



