162 FIELD NOTES FOR THE YEAR. 



torrents, burns changed into rivers, and the grouse un- 

 approachably wild, all combine to drive away many a 

 southern sportsman before the end of this month ; and yet 

 October and November often are better months for grouse- 

 shooting than the latter part of September. 



Here in Morayshire we have a more favourable climate, 

 and it is very rarely that there is any long continuance 

 of bad weather in the lower parts of the county. Many a 

 storm passes harmlessly over our heads to fall on the high 

 grounds a few miles from the coast. These storms of rain or 

 snow, although they pass over us, have always the effect of 

 lowering the quicksilver in the weather-glass, as certainly as 

 if they fell here, instead of only threatening to do so. 



The earliest day on which I ever killed or saw widgeon in 

 Morayshire was on the 8th of September, on which day I 

 shot a brace, late in the evening, as they flew over my head 

 on their way from the bay to some inland lake. They were 

 both young birds. The flock altogether consisted of eight or 

 nine. In the same year I killed a jack-snipe on the 16th, 

 which is far earlier than these birds are usually seen (I have 

 never yet ascertained that they breed in Britain), and during 

 the next ten days I killed four others in nearly the same 

 place, some of which were undoubtedly young birds. It may 

 therefore be supposed that a chance pair may occasionally 

 breed in the North, as it does not seem likely that those 

 which I killed had been bred out of the kingdom. In no 

 other year have I ever seen a jack-snipe before the 8th of 

 October; even that is very early. I have made much 

 inquiry on this subject in Sutherlandshire and in other likely 

 localities ; but have invariably found that where the jack- 

 snipe has been supposed to have been seen during the 

 breeding season, it has turned out to be the dunlin, or the 

 common snipe. Neither their eggs nor young have ever been 

 found, nor has the old bird been seen, for a certainty, in 

 Britain during the summer season, excepting in the case of a 

 single disabled bird. 



The landrail is seldom seen here after the corn is cut, 

 notwithstanding the great numbers which breed in the 

 neighbourhood. It is peculiarly a summer bird ; and 

 although its cry is hoarse and inharmonious, I never hear it 

 without pleasure, associated as it has become in my mind 

 with the fine light nights of June and May. A fearless little 

 bird it is, too, when caught uninjured. I have seen it 



