64 TOUR IN SUTHERLAND. CH. V. 



CHAPTEE V. 



Length of Day — Sedge Warbler— Different Birds near Loch 

 Naver— Ben Cleebrick— Rain— Loch Maddie— Frost— Ben 

 Laighal— Foxes— Sheep Killing— Catching Wild-ducks — 

 Peregrine Falcon ; Manner of catching their Young— Golden 

 Eagles— Tongue— Fine Scenery of Bay of Tongue and 

 Islands — Wild-cat — Seals. 



The nights at this season are most enjoyable ; in 

 fact, there is no darkness. I went out of the inn 

 at midnight, and was much amused at hearing 

 the different cries of the birds. Close to the door 

 is a small enclosed clump of larch, where the grass 

 and weeds are very high and rank. In this little 

 patch it seems that a sedge warbler had made 

 her nest. All day long had the male bird been 

 singing to his mate, and now at midnight he was 

 still uttering unceasingly his merry note ; I never 

 met with so indefatigable a songster; night or 

 day he seemed never to weary. 



Towards the loch a constant tumult was kept up 

 amongst the waders and water-fowl. High in the 

 air was heard the common snipe, earning his Gaelic 

 name of " air goat " by his incessant bleating cry ; 

 while redshanks, curlews, golden plovers, and pee- 

 wits, all seemed to be as lively as if it had been 



