72 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



her nest, I left the spot, and went in search of a male. 

 Though several were croaking in all directions, it was 

 some time before I could get a shot. At last a chance 

 presented itself at a bird flying past ; but as he went 

 on out of sight, though evidently hard hit, I was just 

 looking out for another, when I heard Donald, the 

 keeper, who was some distance behind, shout out that 

 he had the bird ; and on going up to him I found it 

 had fallen dead within a few feet of the spot where he 

 stood. 



Then, cautiously approaching the last nest, we dis- 

 covered that the female had returned. She sat very 

 close, and it was not till the keeper put his hand under 

 her, and lifted her up, that she could be induced to 



%. 



We next took the nest and eggs, and, after securely 

 packing the whole of our specimens, made our way 

 back to where we had left the pony. 



On reaching the spot, the gillie pointed out the 

 nest we were in search of after lunch. We had not 

 examined the ground between the legs of the pony, 

 and here the female had sat unmoved till she had been 

 disturbed by one of the pannier-straps falling on her 

 back while the lunch was being repacked. 



We had now twelve or fourteen miles of rough 

 travelling to get over before reaching the Lodge ; and 

 as the mist was so dense that we could not see above 

 a yard or two before us, I was of opinion that it would 

 be our safest plan to follow a dry gulley down to a 

 burn, which we knew fell into Glenlyon, and, although 

 a few miles out of our road, would be sure to bring us 

 home at last ; but as Donald was so exceedingly con- 

 fident that he could find his way back across the hill, 



