BIRDS OF THE COUNTY. 83 



some, but no great number ; sufficient, however, to make a 

 beautiful variety in the game of the county. 



88. Partridges, on the contrary, are very numerous in all 

 the southern range, where the finely cultivated fields, border- 

 ing on the young plantations, offer every advantage for their 

 breeding. I have occasionally seen partridges in very wild 

 parts of Sutherland, where no bird but grouse would be 

 looked for. 



89. The Quail appears occasionally near Dunrobin. This- 

 bird may be here oftener than is supposed ; for, arriving 

 when the wheat is at a sufficient height to conceal it, seldom 

 taking wing, and departing before the crops are well off the 

 ground, its presence can only be known by its peculiar call 

 or whistle. 



90. The Landrail, as I have before said, is in every corner 

 of the county where it can find a patch of corn. I heard it 

 at Tongue in great numbers ; also at Heilam Ferry in a small 

 patch of oats. The gamekeeper at Tongue told me that he 

 kills it frequently during the winter. 



From the landrail one naturally comes to that class of birds 

 which comprise the plovers, &c. 



91. The Golden Plover is very numerous in all the higher 

 districts during the breeding season. Its eggs are beautifully 

 marked and very large in proportion to the size of the bird. 

 I saw these plovers on all the elevated moors : in winter they 

 collect and descend towards the shores. 



92. The Dotterel, a rare bird anywhere, breeds on Cleebrick, 

 but is by no means numerous. 



93. The Ring Dotterel is very numerous, breeding near the 

 lakes and streams, and also near the sea-shore : they leave 

 the inland parts of the country entirely on the approach of 

 winter. 



94. The Peewit or Lapwing is numerous everywhere from 

 the end of February to the end of October. 



95. The Turnstone is only a visitor, not breeding here. 



96. The Godwit. 



97. The Sanderling. 



98. The Knot, and a great variety of waders and sandpipers 

 which, not being thoroughly acquainted with throughout all 

 their changes of plumage, I cannot enumerate, swarm on all 

 sandy and muddy creeks and bays of the county. It would 

 require many years, and a most accomplished naturalist, to 

 describe accurately all the varieties that are to be found on 



