2 TOUR IN SUTHERLAND. CH. I. 



closely the eagle, the osprey, the wild-goose, and 

 many other birds, whose habits are little known, 

 but who in this region breed and rear their young 

 in comparative security. 



The wild -cat, marten ca.t, fox, etc., though 

 seldom seen by daylight, are still tolerably nume- 

 rous where the ground is not kept for grouse- 

 shooting. In the latter case, however, traps and 

 poison have pretty well destroyed these and all 

 other carnivorous animals. 



In the spring of 1848 I made an excursion 

 through some part of the county of Sutherland, 

 which I shall endeavour to describe, in the hope 

 of inducing others to follow my example, being 

 confident that whoever does so will find himself 

 amply repaid for his trouble. 



My object in making the journey was to enjoy 

 the magnificent scenery of the north coast, to see 

 and observe the breeding habits and localities of 

 many of the rarer birds of Britain, and to ascer- 

 tain the fact of some of these birds rearing then- 

 young in Scotland, which, from the contradictory 

 and uncertain statements of many naturalists, 

 seemed to be a matter of great doubt. Not being 

 a collector of eggs or birds myself, I had no wish to 

 destroy more of my feathered friends than sufficed 

 to prove their identity, and to procure a few 



