THE OSPREY FISHING. 73 



before the bird could touch the water. In the same manner 

 it has often puzzled me how the terns can with such certainty 

 pounce upon and catch so quick a little fish as the sand-eel : 

 the tern's feet not being at all suited for holding anything, 

 these birds catch the sand-eel with their bills. 



The osprey is not nearly so early as the eagle in breeding ; 

 in fact the latter is far advanced towards hatching her eggs 

 before the osprey arrives in Scotland. It is said the ospreys 

 always arrive in pairs; if so, however, it is not easy to under- 

 stand how, when one out of a pair is killed, the remaining 

 bird can find a mate, which it generally manages to do. 

 There are, too, but very few in Britain at any time, their 

 principal head-quarters seeming to be in America; and 

 though living in tolerable peace in the Highlands, they do not 

 appear to increase nor to breed in any localities excepting 

 where they find a situation for their nest similar to what I 

 have already described. As they in no way interfere with 

 the sportsman or others, it is a great pity that they should 

 ever bo destroyed. 



CHAPTEK VIII. 



County of Sutherland ; Variety of Climate and Soil List of Birds ; of Hawk ; 

 Owls ; of the smaller Land Birds ; of the Crow Tribe : Pigeons, &c. 



THERE is no county in Britain with a greater variety of soil 

 and climate than Sutherlandshire, changing gradually from 

 the rich and highly cultivated farms on the Dornoch Firth to 

 the grey rocks and mountains of Assynt and Scowrie. The 

 living productions are also as varied and numerous as can be 

 found in any district of our island. There are few British 

 birds or quadrupeds that are not to be found in this county; 

 the vegetable productions, cultivated and uncultivated, are as 

 numerous and varied. 



The first agriculturists in England would delight in the 

 fine farms near Dunrobin, and might perhaps take a lesson 

 or gain a hint from the tenants' management of cattle and 

 wheat, most of which is destined ultimately for the London 

 market. Though no farmer myself, I pulled in my horse for 

 some time to admire the numerous and beautifully kept cattle 

 and crops of Mr. Craig of Kirkton, one of the Duke of 

 Sutherland's most skilful and enterprising tenants. His cows 



