28 TOUR IN SUTHERLANDSHIRE. 



we got again under weigh for Dnrness. Our landlord at 

 Scowrie having told us that he had heard that the osprey 

 was building on an island in a loch about a mile from our 

 road, we left the horse and boat under the charge of a bare- 

 legged and bare-headed boy, at the place he mentioned (a 

 small bridge about three miles from Scowrie), and went to a 

 point of rock, from which we could command a view of the 

 loch in question. We immediately through a glass discovered 

 the nest of the osprey, built in exactly a similar situation to 

 the last ; that is, on the summit of a rock about eight feet 

 high, shaped like a truncated cone, and standing exposed and 

 alone in the loch. On coming nearer, we could distinguish 

 the white head of the female osprey on the nest. The male 

 bird was not in view. It was determined that I should re- 

 main concealed near the loch, while my two companions 

 went for the boat. This plan was adopted for the double 

 reason that I might be at hand to shoot any hooded crow 

 who might attempt to take the eggs while the osprey was off', 

 she having left the nest on our approach, and also that I 

 might have a chance of shooting the old osprey herself in 

 case she came within shot. I must say that I would rather 

 she had escaped this fate ; but as her skin was wanted, I 

 agreed to try to kill her. 



For some time after the departure of rny companions she 

 Hew round and round at a great height, occasionally drifting 

 away with the high wind, and then returning to the loch. 

 She passed two or three times, not very far from me, before 

 I shot at her. But at last I fired, and the poor bird, after 

 wheeling blindly about for a few moments, fell far to leeward 

 of me, and down amongst the most precipitous and rocky 

 part of the mountain, quite dead. She was scarcely down 

 behind the cliffs when I he ird the cry of an osprey in quite 

 a different direction, and on looking that way I saw the male 

 bird Hying up from a great distance. As he came nearer, I 

 could distinguish plainly with my glass that he was carrying 

 a fish in his claws. On approaching he redoubled his cries, 

 probably expecting the well-known answer, or signal of 

 gratitude, from his mate; but not hearing her, he flew on 

 till he came immediately over the nest. I could plainly see 

 him turning his head to the right and left, as if looking for 

 her, and as if in astonishment at her unwonted absence. He 

 came lower and lower, still holding the fish in his feet, which 

 wen- stretched out at full length from his body. Xot seeing 



