cuckoos. 167 



" We made only thirteen miles yesterday, from Bonar 

 Bridge to Lairg. We fished up the river Shin on our way. 

 J. Jardiue and I each killed a arilse in addition to our 

 t routs ; the rest of the party only caught the last named 

 fishes. Our grilse, however, were kelts, that is, had not 

 run fresh from the sea, but had been kept in the river all 

 winter, owing to the closing of the cruives which had 

 prevented their making their way to the ocean waters. 

 We spent some hours on our way at Invershin upon the 

 Oikel, conversing with Mr Young, who has the chief 

 charge of the fisheries. Soon after our arrival here last 

 night, we discovered a nest of the black- throated diver. 

 I believe it had not been previously seen by any one, 

 though the bird has been long known to breed in Britain. 

 We took the eggs, for they sell in London for a guinea 

 a-piece. There are an immense number of cuckoos here- 

 abouts, so many that one sees them flying about from 

 tree to tree, and the people tell us that they often find their 

 eggs in the nests of small birds, particulary in that of the 

 tit-lark. To-day Sir William and Mr Selby are going to 

 try Loch Shin for the great loch trout ; Dr Greville and 

 myself try a smaller loch among the hills, and hope to 

 find a few insects : we got Carabus clathratus here last 

 year. Now, dearest wife, the party are all keen to be off, 

 as we have breakfasted, and they are scolding me for 

 writing. God bless you all ! " 



