WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS 



on the Findhorn are now busily employed in sitting on 

 their eggs, the heron being one of the first birds to com- 

 mence breeding in this country. A more curious and inter- 

 esting sight than the Findhorn heronry I do not know: 

 from the top of the high rocks on the east side of the river 

 you look down into every nest, the herons breeding on the 

 opposite side of the river, which is here very narrow. The 

 cliffs and rocks are studded with splendid pines and larch, 

 and fringed with all the more lowly but not less beautiful 

 underwood which abounds in this country. Conspicuous 

 amongst these are the bird-cherry and mountain-ash, the 

 holly and the wild rose; while the golden blossoms of furze 

 and broom enliven every crevice and corner in the rock. 

 Opposite to you is a wood of larch and oak, on the latter 

 of which trees are crowded a vast number of the nests of 

 the heron. The foliage and small branches of the oaks that 

 they breed on seem entirely destroyed, leaving nothing 

 but the naked arms and branches of the trees on which the 

 nests are placed. The same nests, slightly repaired, are 

 used year after year. Looking down at them from the high 

 banks of the Altyre side of the river, you can see directly 

 into their nests, and can become acquainted with the whole 

 of their domestic economy. You can plainly see the green 

 eggs, and also the young herons, who fearlessly, and con- 

 scious of the security they are left in, are constantly pass- 

 ing backwards and forwards and alighting on the topmost 

 branches of the larch or oak trees, Avhilst the still younger 

 birds sit bolt upright in the nest, snapping their beaks to- 

 gether with a curious sound. Occasionally a grave-looking 

 heron is seen balancing himself by some incomprehensible 



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