14 TOUR IN SUTHERLAND. CH. 1. 



an object of pursuit amongst bird-stuffers and col- 

 lectors, and this, combined with the price offered 

 for its eggs by egg collectors, will soon entirely 

 extirpate it from all its present breeding-places. 



The cry of this diver is loud, peculiar, and 

 mournful, and it has acquired the local name of 

 rain-goose among the Highlanders, owing to its 

 habit of uttering its croaking call with great per- 

 severance before rain or stormy weather. Its other 

 local and Gaelic names signify the loch hen, and 

 the great loch hen, in distinction to the red-throated 

 diver, which is also frequently found in this county. 

 The latter bird (Colymlus septentrionalis) is much 

 commoner, and is neither so large nor handsome a 

 bird as the former. It is also distinguished readily 

 by the light brownish red neck. The red-throated 

 diver breeds often near small pools and lochs, and 

 lays its eggs more frequently on the shore of the 

 mainland surrounding the loch than on an island. 

 It is not so shy a bird as the black-throated diver, 

 but not being so much valued by collectors, has, 

 I hope, a chance of existing some time yet as an 

 inhabitant of Britain during the breeding season. 



I found that all the shepherds, gamekeepers, and 

 others in this remote part of the kingdom had 

 already ascertained the value of the eggs of this 

 and other rare birds, and were as eager to search 



