246 TOUR IN SUTHERLANDSHIRE. 



with their merry chirp, so expressive of pleasure, as they 

 flutter from tree to tree. I believe that all wild birds live in 

 a state of constant enjoyment when unmolested by animals 

 of prey, biped or quadruped, and even then their terror or 

 pain is but of short duration, having no anticipation of the 

 coming evil, or much remembrance of it if fortunately they 

 escape. The snows of winter sometimes indeed shut up their 

 sources of food, but it is rare, at least in this country, that 

 plenty of open ground is not left for the wants of all the 

 wild animals. 



The falcon at earliest daybreak, after enjoying for a short 

 time the morning sun, shakes her feathers once or twice, 

 plumes her wings, and then launching herself into the air, 

 passes with straight and direct flight to the most favourable 

 hunting-ground. Some unfortunate grouse or plover is soon 

 struck down. The first act of a falcon on striking and catch- 

 ing a bird is, if any life remains, to dislocate its neck ; and 

 thus its pain is immediately over. Oftener, however, the 

 falcon strikes her chase while in the air, killing it perfectly 

 dead instantaneously. Indeed all the long-winged hawks 

 prefer striking their prey in the air, seldom dashing, with the 

 same confidence, at a bird on the ground. Having well 

 filled her crop, the falcon tlies back to some favourite stone, 

 or projection of rock on the cliffs, and there sits in a state of 

 quiet satisfaction for the rest of the day, perched in a situa- 

 tion where no danger can approach her unperceived. 



There must be great enjoyment too in the flight of the 

 eagle and buzzard, as they soar and float for hours together 

 at a height that makes them appear no bigger than a lark. 

 The latter bird too seems the very personification of happi- 

 ness, as, uttering its merry and sweet song, it mounts higher 

 and higher till lost to sight. 



But no birds seem to enjoy life more than water-fowl ; 

 floating without exertion in perfect security in the midst of 

 a calm lake, or riding, as buoyant as a cork, on the waves of 

 .the sea. 



When looking at wild-fowl on the water, it is generally 

 easy to distinguish what kind they are, even from a great 

 distance. Scarcely any two specimens swim or float in the 

 same manner, and at the same elevation above the surface of 

 the water. Coots and sea-gulls float like bladders, with 

 scarcely any of their body immersed : so much so that it is 

 almost impossible to mistake one of the former at any dis- 



