130 FIELD NOTES FOR THE YEAR. 



that the lesser black-backed gull does the same, as I shot one 

 which had a handful of corn (oats and barley) in its crop, 

 mixed up with worms, grubs, &c. 



The fishermen at Nairn found, on the 26th of this month, 

 a very fine northern diver, drowned in the stake nets set for 

 salmon. They tell me that it is not a solitary instance, as 

 every year they get one or two at this season. This is another 

 proof that this bird must breed somewhere on the Scotch 

 coast, although I never heard of its eggs being found. 



The roots and dabchicks have already commenced making 

 their large platform of a nest. I found one on the loch 

 which the bird had fastened on a floating tree that had 

 grounded in a shallow ; but which, having again got adrift, 

 owing to a rise in the loch, had been driven by the wind 

 until it stuck fast close to the shore, where the old bird was 

 still at work. One bird seems to remain in the nest while its 

 mate brings it rushes, which the stationary bird disposes of 

 by adding them to the already large structure, till it seems 

 sufficiently high above the water and solid enough to resist 

 wind and weather. The whole riest is firm enough to bear a 

 much greater weight than is ever imposed on it. 



Everywhere on the lakes are broods of young wild ducks, 

 either swimming in close order behind their mothers, or all 

 huddled together in a heap on some little island or projecting 

 point of land. 



As we were out driving the other day, a teal came flutter- 

 ing out of the dry ditch by the roadside, and for above a 

 hundred yards continued flying and running almost under the 

 horse's feet. I found that she had a number of young ones 

 unable to get over the wall, so we helped them into the 

 adjoining wood. They were a long distance from the water, 

 and had very rough ground to pass over to reach it. I 

 remember exactly a similar circumstance happening to me in 

 Eoss-shire, when I also saved the lives of a young brood of 

 teal by lending them a helping hand. These instances prove 

 that, notwithstanding the instinct of birds, which generally 

 enables them to keep their young out of harm's way, they 

 occasionally get them into a situation not only of difficulty, 

 but where any dog or mischievous boy coming along might 

 destroy the whole brood. At every ebb tide now, the terns 

 fish with great perseverance for the sandeels on which they 

 almost entirely feed. 



The month of May this year appears to have quite changed 



