94 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



The female sits remarkably close, and on two or 

 three occasions I have lifted her off her eggs. 



As soon as the young can fly they join in flocks, and 

 come down to the shores of the firths. 



I have found them particularly numerous on the 

 muddy islands at the head of the Cromarty Firth , near 

 Dingwall, in the beginning of August. They are then 

 in first-rate condition, and few birds, even of the Snipe 

 or Plover kind, are finer flavoured. 



I have never met with this species during the winter 

 months. 



The specimens in the case, together with their nest 

 and eggs, were obtained in Strathmore, in Caithness, 

 in June, 1869. 



JACKDAW. 



Case 96. 



Jack is generally supposed to be a mischievous rogue, 

 but I had always believed that his character, like that 

 of another black party, was not so bad as it was 

 depicted 



One summer, however, when living in Perthshire, I 

 required a young bird of this species, in order to com- 

 pare with the young of the Grey Crow ; and on examin- 

 ing some nests I discovered the shells of dozens of 

 Grouse eggs, which had been destroyed. 



It was too late that season to do much good by 

 exterminating the colony, as the mischief was already 

 accomplished, but the next spring I took forcible 

 measures to prevent them from breeding in their old 

 quarters, and the following season the Grouse on the 

 adjoining beat were nearly doubled. The whole of the 



