BIRDS OF THE COUNTY. 87 



154. The Common Gull breeds also in great numbers on 

 the rocky coasts and on different islands. 



155. The Greater Black-lacked Gull, and 



156. The Lesser Black-lacked Gull breed in great numbers 

 on different lochs : I particularly observed both kinds on 

 Loch Laighal. No doubt many other species of the sea-gull 

 and skua, besides a great variety of wild-fowl, visit this 

 county at different seasons ; but I am determined only to 

 enumerate those that I have seen myself. No part of 

 Britain, or indeed scarcely of Europe, is better adapted for a 

 resting-place for migratory birds on their way to and from 

 their more northern breeding-places ; and the extensive 

 lakes and wilds afford shelter to many that are not generally 

 known to remain in Britain during the summer. The 

 numerous bays and inlets of the sea, leaving at low water 

 great tracts of sand and mud, afford food during the winter 

 for innumerable wild-fowl and waders. 



Many of the finer kinds both of land and water-birds 

 certainly are becoming almost extinct, being hunted down by 

 both gamekeepers and egg-dealers, the latter being frequently 

 a set of mercenary and ignorant men, deceived themselves 

 and deceiving others as to the kind of eggs which they offer 

 for sale ; and instead of furthering the knowledge of natural 

 history, rendering it more obscure by passing off one egg for 

 another, and having recourse to as many tricks as a horse- 

 jockey in selling their specimens, which are often bought by 

 people who have not the slightest knowledge of the natural 

 history of the bird whose eggs they fancy that they are 

 buying. 



CHAPTER X. 



Deer Hounds Deer Forest in Sutherlandsliire Effect of the Forests on Deer 

 The Stag Casting his Horns Hinds and Calves Courage of the Hind 

 Poaching Shepherds Value of Horns Fighting of Stags Highland 

 Forester Breed of Deer-Hounds. 



WHILE staying at the inn at Aultnaharrow, I saw several 

 brace of deer-hounds of the true old Scotch breed. These 

 dogs, which belonged to Lord Ellesmere, were kept close to 

 the inn, at the house of one of his Lordship's foresters. The 

 tract of country preserved as a deer forest comprises a most 

 extensive range of mountains, the best in all Scotland for the 

 purpose. Reaching away to the north-west and west, the 



