Jl Sportsman anb Naturalist's 

 TOUR IN SUTHERLANDSHIRE. 



CHAPTEK I. 



Sutherlandshire ; its Wild Birds not sufficiently known Our Start and 

 Conveyance Kyle of Sutherland Woods of Rosehall ; old Keeper there ; 

 his Recollection of me Oykel Inn Altan-nan-cealgach ; Origin of Name ; 

 Fishing at Conveying Boat to Loch Urigil Wild Geese and Divers on 

 the Loch Large Trout of these Lakes Drive to Inchnadamph Value of 

 Rare Eggs Heronry Peregrine Falcon and Buzzards' Nests Climbing 

 over the Rocks. 



AMONGST the thousands of scenery-hunters and tourists there 

 are very few who have ever made an excursion through the 

 county of Sutherland, although it is a district as interesting 

 as any in Europe, both for its magnificent and varied scenery, 

 including sea, mountain, valley, and lake, and also as con- 

 taining many rare subjects interesting to the naturalist and 

 botanist. There are many birds and plants to be found in 

 the wilder parts of this county which are scarcely to be seen 

 elsewhere in Britain. The naturalist may here observe 

 closely the eagle, the osprey, the wild goose, and many other 

 birds, whose habits are little known, but who in this region 

 breed and rear their young in comparative security. 



The wild cat, marten cat, fox, &c., though seldom seen 

 by daylight, are still tolerably numerous where the ground is 

 riot kept for grouse-shooting. In the latter case, however, 

 traps and poison have pretty well destroyed these and all 

 other carnivorous animals. 



In the spring of 1848 I made nn excursion through some 

 part of the county of Sutherland, which I shall endeavour to 

 describe, in the hope of inducing others to follow my example, 

 being confident that whoever does so will find himself amply 

 repaid for his trouble. 



My object in making the journey was to enjoy the 

 magnificent scenery of the north coast, to see and observe 

 2 



