46 TOUR IN SUTHERLANDSHIRE. 



much amused at hearing the different cries of the birds. 

 Close to the door is a small enclosed clump of larch, where 

 the grass and weeds are very high and rank. In this little 

 patch it seems that a sedge warbler had made her nest. All 

 day long had the male bird been singing to his mate, and 

 now at midnight he was still uttering unceasingly his merry 

 note : I never met with so indefatigable a songster ; night or 

 day lie seemed never to weary. 



Towards the loch a constant tumult was kept up amongst 

 the waders and waterfowl. High in the air was heard the 

 common snipe, earning his Gaelic name of " air goat " by his 

 incessant bleating cry ; while redshanks, curlews, golden 

 plovers, and peewits, all seemed to be as lively as if it had 

 been noon instead of midnight ; occasionally, too, both 

 widgeon and teal were heard to whistle each after its own 

 peculiar fashion ; and the quack of the common mallard was 

 also constant. Now and then a note expressive of alarm was 

 uttered by some bird, and immediately a dead silence was 

 kept by the whole community for a few moments ; but this 

 was soon succeeded by a greater noise than ever, particularly 

 amongst the peewits, which seemed by their cries to be 

 darting about the head of some intruder or enemy. Probably 

 on these occasions a fox, wild cat, or owl had made his 

 appearance amongst them in search of tender food for his 

 own young ravening brood. 



Though I had to rise very early, I betook myself to bed 

 with great regret, and left the window open, in order to hear 

 the serenade of the sedge warbler to the last moment of 

 being awake. 



Ben Cleebrick, the highest hill (or nearly so) in Suther- 

 land, is immediately in front of the inn ; and the forester, 

 after looking at me from head to foot, pronounced his dictum 

 that he thought I should get to the top in two hours or so ; 

 at any rate, that he could do it in that time. Notwith- 

 standing the threatening look of the mist on its summit, I 

 started, hoping to see some ptarmigan nests amongst the 

 loose stones near the top. Dunbar warned me that we 

 should not succeed in reaching the summit, owing to the 

 state of the weather ; and he was correct ; for, although 

 there was an occasional clearing away of the clouds, when we 

 were about half-way up there commenced such a determined 

 and heavy torrent of rain, that we had to give in ; the whole 

 mountain, too, was enveloped in a cloud like a wet blanket, 



