56 TOUR IN SUTHERLANDSHIRE. 



morants was very great ; on firing off my gun on the top of 

 the rocks along the coast, they flew out from beneath my 

 feet in scores. These birds and rock-pigeons seemed the 

 principal inhabitants of the cliffs, with the exception of some 

 pairs of ravens and hooded crows. On Whitenhead different 

 sea-fowl and a pair of eagles breed every year. The people 

 say that the nest of the latter is quite inaccessible. The 

 grouse seern nearly extinct about this district, owing to the 

 number of their enemies, in the shape of winged and ground 

 vermin. I was delighted, however, with the song of the ring- 

 ousel, which was to be heard from every grove and clump of 

 birch. Notwithstanding the peregrines and crows too, the 

 golden plover is in great abundance. 



I found on the little promontory of Heilam a number of 

 wild flowers growing amongst the short grass, one or two of 

 which were new to me. Though I am sorry to say I am no 

 botanist, I seldom pass a wild flower without making its 

 acquaintance. 



The next day our drive was to Durness. The mountains 

 at the head of Loch Erriboll are as wild as can well be 

 imagined ; consisting of irregular piles of grey rocks, thrown 

 together in every kind of confusion. On the west of the 

 loch there is a long slope of brown hill, down the side of 

 which run innumerable small streams of the brightest water. 

 The rain of the day before made them appear to great 

 advantage, as they were all seen conspicuously from the 

 opposite side of the bay, glittering in the gleams of sunshine, 

 which occasionally broke through the remains of the storm. 

 I was glad to get back to Durness after three or four weeks' 

 absence, as the scenery is magnificent, the inn comfortable,- 

 and the landlady, Mrs. R, and her servants, most attentive, 

 kind, and obliging. A pleasanter sojourn for botanist, natu- 

 ralist, or lover of romantic scenery I do not know. 



There is a very remarkable cavern close to Durness : a 

 burn of good size disappears underground, and is seen again 

 issuing from the rocks within this cavern, through which it 

 runs for a short distance till it empties itself into the sea, 



Numbers of the common house martin were Hying about 

 the cave, and building their nests in the niches of the rocks. 

 In some of the dark, damp corners, where there seems to be 

 a constant dripping from the roof, were clusters of bright 

 green ferns, and other plants, in great variety. On some 

 parts of the shore the rocks are quite perpendicular for a 



