198 FIELD NOTES FOR THE YEAR. 



aud weighty addition to the game bag. All my dogs, whether 

 pointers, spaniels, terriers, or retrievers, become very eager 

 when on the scent of roe. 



The blackcocks, like other birds, are very fond of catching 

 the last evening rays of a winter's sun, and are always to be 

 found in the afternoon on banks facing the west, or swinging, 

 if there is no wind, on the topmost branch of the small fir 

 trees. On the mountains, too, all birds, as the sun gets low, 

 take to the slopes which face the west ; whilst in the morn- 

 ing they betake themselves to the eastern banks and slopes to 

 meet his rays. No bird or animal is to be found in the shade 

 during the winter, unless it has flown there for shelter from 

 some imminent danger. This is very remarkable in the case 

 of the golden plover, who in the evening ascend from 

 slope to slope as each becomes shaded by intervening heights, 

 until they all are collected on the very last ridge which the 

 sun shines upon. When this is no longer illuminated, and 

 the sun is quite below the horizon, they betake themselves to 

 their feeding-places near the seashore and elsewhere. Goats 

 have the same habit. 



There is no fresh-water lake which has so large a quantity 

 of wild fowl on it as the Loch of Spynie ; aud I do not know 

 a more amusing sight than the movements and proceedings 

 of the thousands of birds collected there during this season. 

 All wild fowl, from the swan to the teal, swarm on this lake ; 

 and it is most interesting to see the habits and manners of 

 feeding and of passing their time of the different kinds, some 

 feeding only by night and others moving about at all hours. 

 On the approach of night, however, the whole community 

 becomes restless and on the move, and the place is alive with 

 the flocks flying to and fro, all uttering their peculiar notes, 

 and calling to each other, as they pass from one part of the 

 loch to another. The mallards for the most part take to the 

 fields in search of food, flying either in pairs or in small 

 flocks of five or six. The widgeon keep in companies of ten 

 or twelve, whistling constantly to each other as they fly to 

 feed on the grassy edges of the lochs. The teal and some 

 other birds feed chiefly on the mud-banks and shallows 

 which abound in parts of this half-drained lake ; and 

 amongst the loose stones of the old castle of Spynie, which 

 overlooks it, and where formerly proud ecclesiastics trod, the 

 badger has now taken up his solitary dwelling. 



The flight of wild fowl in the evening is more rapid in 



